Key Takeaways
- James Darren died peacefully on September 2, 2024, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
- His film career began in 1956 with “Rumble on the Docks.”
- He had also directed episodes of “Hunter,” “The A-Team,” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
James Darren, the American TV and film actor, passed away in his sleep on September 2, 2024, at 88, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His death was not due to the accident.
He is widely known for starring in “Gidget” (1959) and its sequels, and his appearance in “T. J. Hooker” (1983-1986) and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1998-1999).
Jim Moret, Darren’s son, confirmed that his father passed away at a Los Angeles hospital on Monday.
Moret shared that Darren was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement but was deemed too weak for the surgery. He said,
“I always thought he would pull through.”
Via WCJB
He mentioned that during his father’s treatment in the cardiac unit, he had the opportunity to express his love for his family. Moret said:
He was a good man. He was very talented. He was forever young.
Via Variety
Moret was thankful that his father could take pride in his signature role as the surfer Moondoggie in “Gidget” and that he kept interacting with his fans.
The Star Trek-centric X account @TrekCore, known for its popularity, posted a video of James from the show, along with a farewell message.
Farewell to legendary singer and #StarTrek DS9 recurring star Jimmy Darren — Vic Fontaine, your holosuite will always keep running in our hearts.#JamesDarren pic.twitter.com/7CCdWlm2Vi
— TrekCore.com 🖖 (@TrekCore) September 2, 2024
Another tweet reads:
Saddened to hear that James Darren who played Vic Fontaine on DS9 has passed on
Via X
Dude married a Miss Denmark when he was young, stayed married to her until his death at the ripe old age of 88 when he died peacefully in his sleep. Absolute unit, he lived the dream
He leaves behind his wife Evy, his sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren, and Tony Darren, and five grandchildren.
Although Darren was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement, no specific details have been provided about James’ cause of death.
But one thing is for sure: his demise was not the result of an accident.
The Legacy of James Darren: A Career in Film and Television
Born in Philadelphia on June 8, 1936, James dreamed of acting from a young age and studied acting with Stella Adler, an American actress and acting teacher, in New York.
He was later signed by Columbia Pictures, making his debut role in the 1956 film “Rumble on the Docks.”
Darren then went on to feature in films like “Operation Madball” and “Gunmen’s Walk” before he was cast in the 1959 teen movie “Gidget,” featuring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson.
He also sang the title track for the popular film.
The “Gidget” theme song initiated a successful singing career for Darren, who earned a gold record with “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1961 and released 14 albums later.
Darren took on the role of a teen idol in episodes of The Donna Reed Show twice, once in 1959 and again in 1961.
His film career continued with roles in movies including “The Guns of Navarone,” “The Gene Krupa Story,” “All the Young Men,” and “Because They’re Young.”
He played Moondoggie once more in “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and repeated the role in “Gidget Goes to Rome.”
His television career began with a role in “The Time Tunnel.” After a short time in Italy for Jess Franco’s “Venus in Furs,” he guest-starred on various TV series, including “Love, American Style,” “Fantasy Island,” and “The Love Boat.”
Alongside his acting career, he has also directed episodes for the action series “Hunter,” “The A-Team,” and “Nowhere Man,” as well as drama series such as “Beverly Hills,” “90210,” and “Melrose Place.”
He was a regular cast member on “T.J. Hooker” from 1983 to 1986.
In 1996, he began portraying Vic Fontaine, a holographic lounge singer, on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” where he performed Rat Pack-style entertainment in Quark’s bar’s holo suites.
His later roles include appearances in “Random Acts” (2001), “Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story” (2010), and “Lucky” (2017).
The entertainment industry is currently grieving his loss, and fans will remember him as a legendary actor for his roles in television and film.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Born as James William Ercolani, his parents were Italian immigrants.
- In 1955, he married Gloria, his first wife, and together they had a son, Jim Moret, an “Inside Edition” correspondent and former CNN anchorman.
- He was the godfather of A.J. Lambert, daughter of Nancy Sinatra, an American singer-songwriter and actress.
