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James Darren, the multifaceted entertainer known for his teen idol beginnings in “Gidget” and his extensive career on screen and as a singer, has passed away at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 88.
His son, Jim Moret, reflected on Darren’s final days at the hospital’s cardiac unit, sharing that his father continued to express his love for his family until the end. Moret described him as a talented, eternally youthful man, who cherished his iconic surfer role in “Gidget” and maintained a close connection with his fans.
Darren, a Philadelphia native, was trained in acting by Stella Adler in New York before signing with Columbia Pictures. His film career kicked off with “Rumble on the Docks,” and he quickly rose to prominence with roles in “Operation Madball” and “Gunmen’s Walk.”
His breakthrough came with the 1959 film “Gidget,” starring alongside Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson. Darren also performed the movie’s title song, leading him to a successful music career that included the gold hit “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1961 and over a dozen albums.
Though Darren grew weary of being typecast, he reprised his role as Moondoggie in “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and “Gidget Goes to Rome.” He later transitioned to television, where he starred in series like “The Time Tunnel” and appeared in shows such as “Love, American Style” and “The Love Boat.”
He was a regular on “T.J. Hooker” from 1983 to 1986 and directed episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.”
In the late ’90s, Darren found a new audience as Vic Fontaine, the holographic lounge singer in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
He leaves behind his wife Evy, sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren, Tony Darren, and five grandchildren.