Ken Osmond, best known for his role of Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver, has passed away at age 76.
Osmond’s son, Eric, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to Entertainment Tonight on Monday, May 18.
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“He was an incredibly kind and wonderful father,” the statement read. “He had his family gathered around him when he passed. He was loved and will be very missed.”
The cause of Osmond’s passing is unknown at this time.
Henry Lane, the late actor’s former partner at the Los Angeles Police Department, also confirmed Osmond’s passing and said he had suffered from respiratory issues.
Osmond portrayed Eddie Haskell on both the original Leave It to Beaver, which debuted in 1967, and reprised his role in Thew New Leave It To Beaver in 1983. The actor also appeared on other iconic television series at the time like Annie Oakley, Lassie, and Happy Days.
Leave It to Beaver costar Jerry Matthews shared a sweet tribute to Osmond.
“I will greatly miss my lifelong friend Ken Osmond who I have known for over 63 years. I have always said that he was the best actor on our show because in real life his personality was so opposite of the character that he so brilliantly portrayed,” he wrote in a tweet on Twitter.
In 1970, Osmond joined the Los Angeles Police Department and retired from the force in 1988.
The late actor is survived by his wife, Sandra Purdy, whom he had been married to since 1969, and his two sons, Christian and Eric.