Hollywood Actor “Gidget” Fame James Darren Actor, Director Dies at 88

Hollywood famous “Gidget” teen actor, director, and singer James Darren died Monday at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 88 due to heart failure.

He is still remembered as the Surfer Moondoggie in the famous teen film “Gidget”. The Gentleman was survived by his wife, three kids, and grandchildren.

His son Jim Moret the Chief Correspondent of the television magazine “INSIDE” said “He was a good man. He was very talented,” Moret said. “He was forever young.” Moret said he was grateful that his father had been able to embrace his signature role as the surfer Moondoggie in the “Gidget” movie and that he continued to interact with his fans.

Taking Back in Time to the Deceased Actor James Darren's Acting Journey

Darren then made his appearance in a TV show ABC science fiction as the headstrong Dr. Tony Newman an electronics genius “The Time Tunnel”.

His Shining Singing Career: “Goodbye Cruel World” To  “ Her Royal Majesty”

James Darren shows his singing talent in one of the most remembered songs of the 1960s, which is “Goodbye Cruel World” written by Gloria Shayne which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Chart in 1961.

Another hit song that reached the top 10 in 1962 with “Her Royal Majesty” by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. 

He convinced the producer that he could perform the gig in the “Gidgets” name “Coldpix”  He said in the interview “They were going to use somebody else’s voice, but I told them I could sing,” he said. “We went into one of the soundstages with a piano player and I sang the song and they said, ‘He can do it.’ Then they put me on their label, Colpix.”

In the 90s he played Holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine “ Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.   In 1999 he released his album “This One from the Heart”.

He also performed at the 1959 OscarAwards “Almost in Your Arms” and in 1964 he performed at the Oscar again with the song “ Mad Mad Mad Mad World”.

James Darren's Personal Life and Childhood 

While in New York City the owner of a Photography shop connected him to Columbia Pictures talent agent Joyce  Selznik and he went to sign the contract. Later his acting career began and he appeared in the movies that gave him fame like Gidgets, The Gene Krupa Story, The Lively Set, Venus in Furs, and many more.

Later he married his childhood girlfriend Gloria Terlitsky in 1955 but later they both got divorced in 1958. 

Then again he married Miss Denmark Evy Norlund in 1960 till his death. For decades lived in a home located on Kimbridge Road in Beverly Ridge Estate that was home to Audrey Hepburn. 

He has grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie, and Nicholas, and God's daughter A.J. Lambert's daughter Nancy Sinatra.