Actor James Darren has died at the age of 88. He was known for his roles in Gidget and Star Trek.
His son told him that his dad passed away on Monday in a hospital in Los Angeles.
He told Variety that before his death, his dad had the chance to tell his family how much he loved them.
Jim also told them that his dad was getting care in the hospital’s heart unit.
“He was a nice guy.” “He was very smart and skilled,” Jim said.
“He was forever young.”
James’s wife Evy and sons Jim, Christian Darren, and Tony Darren will miss him.
Additionally, he had five grandchildren.
There are still no more details about how James died or why he was taken to the hospital.
On social media, fans shared tributes to the actor, saying nice things about him and thinking about his career.
A very popular X account called @TrekCore, which is all about Star Trek, posted a video of James on the show with a goodbye message.
“Farewell to legendary singer and Star Trek DS9 recurring star Jimmy Darren – Vic Fontaine, your holosuite will always keep running in our hearts,” said the post.
“I heard that James Darren died.” Dad and James used to be friends 65 years ago. These black-and-white pictures of them from the 1970s were just found. Two Philadelphia singers who never lost their cool. “Moondoggie, we’ll miss you,” wrote Alison Martino, Al Montino’s daughter.
“Rest in peace, James Darren! I loved him in the Gidget movies!” gushed a third face.
A fourth person wrote, “RIP to the great James Darren—the one and only Vic Fontaine.”
He was Moondoggie, and I loved The Time Tunnel and The Guns of Navarone when I was a kid. Remember T.J. Hooker from DS9? He’s a good cop! He also knew how to sing it. Wonderful job. An admirer wrote, “Rest in peace, James Darren.”
“James Darren died today.” Others wrote, “One of the greats.”
LEGACY OF JAMES
As Moondoggie the surfer in Giget and Vic Fontaine, the Holosuit lounge singer in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, James played famous roles.
he was born in Philadelphia and went to New York to study acting with Stella Adler.
He was signed to Columbia Pictures and got his first part in Rumble on the Docks there.
The movie that started his career was Gidget, followed by Operation Madball and Gunmen’s Walk.
James not only acted in the movie, but he also sang the title song.
The song made him famous as a singer, and his next album, Goodbye Cruel World, went gold in 1961.
During his career, James put out at least 14 albums.
While singing, he went on to star in movies like “The Guns of Navarone,” “The Gene Krupa Story,” “All the Young Men,” and “Because They’re Young.”
James played Moondoggie again in Gidget Goes to Hawaii and Gidget Goes to Rome.
Besides movies, the actor was in a number of TV shows.
The Love Boat, Venus in Furs, Love, American Style, and The Time Tunnel were all movies that he was cast in.
His role on T.J. Hooker lasted from 1983 to 1986, and he later switched from acting to directing.
James was the director of episodes of Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, and 90210.
