A teen heartthrob from the golden age of surfer films has died.
James Darren was 88 years outdated.
Darren was in all probability greatest often known as Moondoggie within the “Gidget” movie collection, in response to The Hollywood Reporter.
His son, Jim Moret, confirmed his father’s demise, saying the actor died in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Middle in Los Angeles.
Darren had been hospitalized for an aortic valve substitute however was too weak to endure the surgical procedure so he was despatched residence. He needed to return to the hospital shortly after.
“I all the time thought he would pull by,” Moret advised The Hollywood Reporter, “as a result of he was so cool. He was all the time cool.”
Darren was born in Philadelphia in June 1936 and named James Ercolani. His father would take him at a younger age to carry out in native bars and nightclubs, in response to the “Star Trek” official web site’s obituary for the actor.
His first function was in “Rumble on the Docks” in 1956 and had appeared as Greek soldier Spyros Pappadimos in “The Weapons of Navarone.” however his greatest casting was for the three “Gidget” movies.
Darren performed Moondoggie whose actual identify was Jeff Matthews, a surfer and singer regardless of Darren not figuring out the right way to surf in actual life. He would star reverse Sandra Dee in 1959′s “Gidget,” Deborah Walley in 1961′s “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and Cindy Carol in 1963′s “Gidget Goes to Rome.”
He appeared on the small display in ABC’s “The Time Tunnel” from 1966 by 1967 and “T.J Hooker” reverse William Shatner and because the accomplice of Heather Locklear.
Shatner spoke of his former co-star’s demise on X.com, writing, “What an exquisite man – so gifted; so loving. I had the perfect time with him. The world is much less due to his loss.”
Jimmy Darren; I labored with him for a number of years after which we’d see one another once in a while. What an exquisite man – so gifted; so loving.
I had the perfect time with him. The world is much less due to his loss.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) September 3, 2024
He additionally directed an episode of the Shatner cop drama in an emergency and ended up being behind the digicam for “Hunter,” “Melrose Place,” “The A-Group” and “Beverly Hills 90210.” On “Melrose Place,” he reunited with Locklear in entrance of the digicam as Tony Marlin.
Darren additionally appeared on “Star Trek: Deep Area 9” as holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine in seven episodes of the present’s closing two seasons, in response to Startrek.com. He referred to as the function “a dream come true. It was one of the crucial satisfying roles for me to have performed.”
He was on the ultimate episode and sang “The Method You Look Tonight” to actress Nana Customer.
He mentioned recording that episode was tough to movie, “she’d begin crying. And when she’d begin crying, I’d begin crying. It was powerful getting by it.”
His closing function was in 2017′s “Fortunate.”
Darren had a few hits in his singing profession over time, together with “Goodbye Merciless World” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Scorching 100 in 1961 and the subsequent 12 months with “Her Royal Majesty” which additionally made the highest 10, in response to The Hollywood Reporter.
Darren leaves behind his spouse Evy, three sons and 5 grandchildren, Selection reported.
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