Mukilteo (Washington), (UNI) John Eimen, the cherubic, red-haired child actor who graced a string of iconic American television series during the late 1950s and ’60s, has died at the age of 76.
His family confirmed that he succumbed to prostate cancer at his home in Mukilteo, Washington, only months after receiving his diagnosis in September, according to DEADLINE.
Born in Chicago on October 2, 1949, Eimen relocated to Los Angeles with his family during the 1950s, an auspicious move that steered him toward an early career in Hollywood. It was there that a perceptive talent agent, an acquaintance of his first-grade teacher, spotted potential in the freckle-faced youngster. Credited as Johnny Eimen, he made regular guest appearances in popular shows between 1958 and 1962, including Wagon Train, The Untouchables, Have Gun- Will Travel and General Electric Theatre.
He also appeared in a classic Charles Beaumont-penned 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone — which wasn’t? — titled “The Fugitive.” It starred J. Pat O’Malley as Old Ben, a kindly old man who is popular with the children but actually is the king of a far-off planet who fled the regal responsibilities and came to Earth. His subjects come looking for him.
Perhaps most famously, Eimen played a classmate of Theodore Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) in the first episode of Leave It to Beaver. He would go on to make several appearances of the popular series during its 1957-63 run, including speaking parts.
He also starred alongside Oscar-winning Jane Wyman in the 1961 drama pilot Dr. Kate, playing Cadet Monk Roberts, a student in a military school. The show wasn’t picked up to series, but the pilot was re-formatted for the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse.
Among Eimen’s other TV credits are guest shots on Going My Way, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Angel, Bachelor Father, The Rebel, Wendy and Me starring George Burns and Petticoat Junction. He also was a model who appeared in a full-page Carnation Instant Breakfast ad that ran in Life and other national magazine.
As his Hollywood career tapered off, Eimen pursued his passion for music, performing as a singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Afterwards, he relocated to Japan, where he spent more than a decade teaching English and performing in local clubs and on television. This is where he met the love of his life, who later on came to be known as his wife. After moving his family back to the United States in the mid-1990s, he would spend 25 years as a flight attendant on international routes for a major U.S. airline, aided by his speaking fluent Japanese. He retired from the airline in 2020.
John Eimen is survived by Midori, his wife of 51 years; their sons Daniel Eimen and Chris Eimen; and grandsons Lucas and Oliver. There will not be a funeral, per the family, but a memorial service is being planned.
