Fans of Leave It to Beaver and classic television are mourning the loss of one of the era’s familiar childhood faces.

John Eimen — the red-haired, freckle-faced boy who appeared in many beloved shows of the ’50s and ’60s — has passed away at 76.

A career that began almost by accident

Eimen died Friday at his home in Mukilteo, Washington, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in September, his family told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Chicago in 1949, Eimen’s Hollywood journey started unexpectedly. After his family moved to Los Angeles, a talent agent visited his first-grade classroom and immediately noticed the bright-haired 6-year-old.

As he later recalled on The Jeff Dwoskin Show, “At that time, I had bright, ridiculously bright red hair and the freckles … a real all-American boy-type kid.”

The agent asked to speak with his parents — and just like that, his acting career began.

He quickly moved from background roles to speaking parts. In a memoir for TV Party, he wrote:

“I was involved in TV from the age of six. I started as an extra for the first year or so, in such shows as Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, The Millionaire, Bachelor Father and Petticoat Junction.”

Leave It to Beaver

Fans of Leave It to Beaver will remember him as one of Beaver’s classmates, appearing as early as the show’s pilot. Eimen later recalled working with Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow, describing them as “such genuinely nice guys.”