Former teen idol and actor James Darren passed away in his sleep on Monday at the age of 88. The news was confirmed by his son, Jim Moret. The actor is still remembered for his iconic roles as Moondoggie, a charismatic dark-haired surfer boy in the 1959 film “Gidget,” and Jim Corrigan in “T.J. Hooker.” He continued his success in the world of music in the mid-1960s, as his singles topped the charts. Darren even went on to explore TV directing and worked on popular shows, including Beverly Hills and 90210.
Former teen idol James Darren dies after hospitalization
Jim Moret, James Darren’s son, told The Hollywood Reporter that his father died in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The former teen idol was reportedly hospitalized for an aortic valve replacement. However, Darren was found too weak to have the surgery. Moret thought that his father “would pull through because he was so cool. He was always cool.”
Darren’s early career saw him steal fans’ hearts as the dark-haired surfer boy in the “Gidget” films. The actor, who was also exploring music, entered the television world as he took on the role of Officer Jim Corrigan in the show “T.J. Hooker.” Furthermore, Darren stepped into the shoes of a director in 1986 as an emergency fill-in while filming the final season of “T.J. Hooker.” Following that, he went on to helm episodes of several popular shows.
Eventually, Darren revived his singing career in the late 1990s. The actor and singer also appeared in several “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” episodes as the holographic lounge singer, Vic Fontaine. The show’s recurring star, Darren was dearly loved in the “Star Trek” fandom. Following his passing, fans took to social media to offer their condolences. A “Star Trek” page wrote, “Vic Fontaine, your holosuite will always keep running in our hearts.”
