Actor John Eimen died of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men, affecting 1 in 8 men in the U.S.

John Eimen, a former child star known for his guest spot in "Leave it to Beaver," died Friday, Nov. 21, a representative confirmed. He was 76.

Eimen died at his home in Mukilteo, Washington, from prostate cancer, publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to USA TODAY. Eimen learned of his cancer diagnosis in September.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, affecting 1 in 8 men in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. In May 2025, it was revealed that former President Joe Biden had been diagnosed with what his office called an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer, bringing attention to a disease that is diagnosed in hundreds of thousands of American men each year.

Here's what you need to know about prostate cancer.

How common is prostate cancer?

The National Cancer Institute says that prostate cancer makes up about 15.4% of all new cancer cases and estimates that there will be 313,780 in 2025.

"I find that it's something that a lot of men don't talk about," Dr. Samuel Haywood, a urologist specializing in prostate cancer, told USA TODAY when former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin disclosed that he underwent prostate cancer surgery in 2024. "Men can be very stoic, and they don't like to talk about their health issues."

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of prostate cancer include:

  • Frequent, sometimes urgent, need to pee, especially at night
  • Weak urine flow or flow that starts and stops
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Loss of bowel control
  • Painful ejaculation and erectile dysfunction
  • Blood in semen or urine
  • Pain in lower back, hip or chest

All men are at risk, but according to the CDC, “the older a man is, the greater the chance of getting prostate cancer.”

Men who have a family history of prostate cancer are also at increased risk, the CDC says. African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, more than twice as likely to die from it and get the disease at a younger age than other men, often having more advanced stages of the cancer when it is found.

Prostate cancer prognosis and treatment

While about 1 in 44 men will die of prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, most men diagnosed with the illness do not die from it.

Non-metastasized prostate cancer has a 97.9% 5-year relative survival rate, according to the National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer that has metastasized and spread to other parts of the body has a survival rate of about 38%, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Management of the disease may include surgery, radiation therapies, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy among other treatment options, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman, James Powel

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This 'Leave it to Beaver' star died of prostate cancer. What to know.

Reporting by Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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