His memories of that era were overflowing with warmth. Speaking of the Nelson family from Ozzie and Harriet, he wrote, “Their family values were no act at all.”
Through the ’60s, Eimen worked steadily, The Twilight Zone, Lassie, Fury, Wendy and Me, Petticoat Junction and more. He even became the face of one of the earliest “milk mustache” ads for Carnation Instant Milk in 1959.
But Wyman backed out due to scheduling issues, and the series never happened. Eimen took it in stride, writing, “It seemed that a big break had come my way… However, she backed out of the deal.”
Cadet Monk Roberts
But the role fans remember most was Cadet Monk Roberts in McKeever and the Colonel. Although the show only lasted one season, it left an impression. Eimen was delighted that so many still remembered it, noting the surprising amount of merchandise it inspired — even a board game.
As he grew older, Eimen gently stepped away from acting, drawn instead to music and theater. Studying at Valley Junior College, he found himself surrounded by peers he deeply admired — including Ed Begley Jr. and Michael Richards (“Kramer”), saying he was “in awe of him.” That environment helped him realize where he felt most at home artistically.
Music led him around the world — performing in supper clubs around Beverly Hills, playing in a garage band with Stanley Fafara (“Whitey” from Leave It to Beaver), and even backing Sonny and Cher on New Year’s Eve. And then life took a beautiful turn: a blind date with a Japanese student changed everything. Eimen traveled to Japan intending to stay for a month, but instead married Midori in a Shinto ceremony and lived there for 10 years.Continue reading…
