Eiding was inspired to become an actor by his experience serving in the
United States Army's
3rd Infantry Division in
Würzburg,
Germany. During this time, he joined a performing group named the Marne Glee Club. Although he was one of the youngest
G.I.s in the group, he was soon promoted to a directing position due to his music background. The group performed across Germany,
Belgium,
Denmark, and northern
France for soldiers and civilian audiences. During the 1970s, Eiding was a prolific commercial actor, appearing in advertisements for snowmobiles, granola bars, department stores, and clothing. He also worked for theater-groups across the
Midwest, Eiding found the Brave New Workshop's improvisational approach exhausting, elaborating that "You have to take time off to think of new ideas. At Dudley Riggs we were doing nine shows a week". On February 2, 1981, Eiding hosted the
Twin Cities' first award ceremony for distinguished achievement in local theater, which was held at the
Children's Theater Company. In 1983, Eiding starred in a dual role as Joshua and Cathy in
Don Amendolia's
Los Angeles production of
Caryl Churchill's
Cloud 9. In the late 1980s, Eiding appeared in the short-lived
ABC sitcom The Charmings as the neighbor Don Miller. ==Filmography==