Entertainment
Hollywood Legend James Darren Dies at 88, Leaving Behind a Storied Career
Clear Facts
- James Darren, known for his role in “Gidget” and “T.J. Hooker,” passed away at the age of 88.
- Darren had a multifaceted career as an actor, singer, and television director.
- He died in his sleep at a Los Angeles hospital, as confirmed by his son Jim Moret.
James Darren, the iconic teen idol who captured hearts in the 1960s surfing film “Gidget,” has passed away at the age of 88. Darren’s son, Jim Moret, confirmed that his father died peacefully in his sleep at a Los Angeles hospital.
Moret revealed that Darren was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement but was too frail for the procedure.
“I always thought he would pull through,” Moret said, “because he was so cool. He was always cool.”
Darren’s career spanned decades and included notable roles as an actor, singer, and television director. He gained fame in the late 1950s as Moondoggie in “Gidget,” where he starred alongside Sandra Dee.
“I was in love with Sandra,” Darren once recalled. “I thought that she was absolutely perfect as Gidget. She had tremendous charm.”
The film, based on Frederick Kohner’s novel about his teenage daughter, played a significant role in popularizing surfing culture, influencing music, slang, and fashion.
Darren’s success with young audiences led to a recording contract, similar to other young stars of the era like Tab Hunter and Annette Funicello. He achieved Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with singles such as “Goodbye Cruel World” and “Her Royal Majesty.”
He was the only cast member to appear in all “Gidget” sequels, including “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and “Gidget Goes to Rome.” Reflecting on his time at Columbia Studios, Darren humorously stated,
“They had me under contract; I was a prisoner. But with those lovely young ladies, it was the best prison I think I’ll ever be in.”
Darren’s career extended beyond teen films. He appeared in adult roles in movies like “The Brothers Rico” and “The Guns of Navarone.” By the mid-1960s, his film career waned, but he remained active on television.
He starred in “The Time Tunnel” and had guest roles in popular shows such as “The Love Boat” and “Hawaii Five-O.” In the 1980s, Darren became a series regular on “T.J. Hooker,” where he played Officer Jim Corrigan. His stint on the show led to opportunities in directing.
“When it was shown, I got several offers to direct,” he said. “Soon I was getting so many offers to direct, I kind of gave up acting and singing.”
Darren directed episodes of well-known series like “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Hunter,” and “Beverly Hills 90210.” He returned to acting in the 1990s with roles in “Melrose Place” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Born James Ercolani in 1936 in South Philadelphia, Darren grew up near fellow teen idols Fabian and Frankie Avalon. He began singing in local nightclubs at the age of 14 and always knew he wanted to be an entertainer.
“From the age of 5 or 6 I knew I wanted to be an entertainer, or famous maybe,” he said in a 2003 interview. He credited his neighborhood, which produced stars like Eddie Fisher and Al Martino, for inspiring his ambitions.
Darren’s big break came when a talent scout discovered him in New York. He soon signed with Columbia Pictures, and his popularity soared, with fan mail rivaling that of Kim Novak.
Darren married his first wife, Gloria, in 1955, and they had a son, Jim Moret. After their divorce, he married Evy Norlund, a former Miss Universe contestant from Denmark, and they had two sons, Christian and Anthony.
He was also the godfather of Nancy Sinatra’s daughter, A. J. Lambert. Sinatra, who co-starred with Darren in “For Those Who Think Young,” posted an obituary on her social media page with a broken heart emoji.
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