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
James Darren in a Gidget
James Darren began his acting journey in the late 50s, he first began the role of a high school senior and gang member opposite Robert Blake in the crime drama Rumble on the Docks (1956) then followed with roles in Operation Mad Ball, The Brothers Rico, The Tijuana Story in 1957 and Gunman’s Walks in 1958, Greek Soldiers in the Spyros Pappadimos in The Guns of Navarone.
James Darren in Rumble on The Docks
But one movie that made him popular and fans still remember his signature style role is the teen surfer role Moondoggie opposite three actresses: Sandra Dee in Gidget (1959), Deborah Walley in Gidget: Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Cindy Carol in Gidget: Goes to Rome (1963).
Darren then made his appearance in a TV show ABC science fiction as the headstrong Dr. Tony Newman an electronics genius “The Time Tunnel”.
James Darren in The Time Tunnel
In his adult time, he joined the most famous ABC series T.J.Hooker portraying Officer Jim Corrigan. He even directed the series final season in 1986 few numbers of episodes.
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 Oscar Awards “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
James Darren and Gloria
Born on 8 June 1936 South 10th Street in South Philadelphia as a James William Ercolani. In his childhood, he was inspired by another native singer and actor “Eddie Fisher” and joined an acting class under the guidance of Stella Adler.
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.
James Darren With Evy Norlund
He has a son Jim Moret, chief correspondent to the magazine Inside, and his other sons Christian and Anthony.
He has grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie, and Nicholas, and God’s daughter A.J. Lambert’s daughter Nancy Sinatra.
