John Eimen, the red-haired former child actor from classic 1950s and ’60s TV, has died at 76. His family said he passed away at home in Mukilteo, Washington, after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Born in Chicago in 1949, his Hollywood path began when a talent agent spotted him in first grade. As he joked, “At that time, I had bright, ridiculously bright red hair and the freckles … a real all-American boy-type kid.” Soon he was acting, moving from extra work to speaking roles. “I was involved in TV from the age of six,” he wrote, appearing in Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, The Millionaire, and more. He remembered Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow as “such genuinely nice guys,” and wrote of the Nelsons, “Their family values were no act at all.”

He continued working through the ’60s, from The Twilight Zone to Lassie, even becoming an early “milk mustache” face. He nearly had a breakthrough with Dr. Kate, but, as he put it, “It seemed that a big break had come my way… However, she backed out of the deal.” Fans fondly remember him as Cadet Monk Roberts in McKeever and the Colonel.

Eimen later shifted to music and theater, studying alongside future stars and performing worldwide. A blind date with Midori, a Japanese student, led to marriage and ten years living in Japan, where he sang, taught English, appeared on TV, and translated comics. “As my Japanese got better, other opportunities came up,” he said.

Returning to the U.S., he worked various jobs before spending 25 years as a Japanese-speaking flight attendant. “The most wonderful aspect of it has been that I’ve gone so many places… with my family.” Grateful he avoided the struggles many child actors faced, he once said, “I’m so happy that wasn’t me!!!”

He is survived by Midori, their sons Daniel and Chris, and grandchildren Lucas and Oliver.