James Darren handed away peacefully in his sleep on the age of 88 on Monday.
The actor, who’s finest recognized for his work on Gidget, T.J. Hooker and Star Trek: Deep Area 9, died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, his son Jim Moret has confirmed.
Whereas the reason for his demise stays unclear, Moret informed TMZ that his father was being handled for coronary heart points on the hospital’s cardiac unit.
Darren initially went to the hospital for an aortic valve alternative, nonetheless, his docs despatched him dwelling after they deemed he was too weak to bear the process.
After being despatched dwelling, Darren was then taken again to the hospital.
James Darren handed away peacefully in his sleep on the age of 88 on Monday; pictured March 2022 in Palm Springs
The actor, who’s finest recognized for his work on Gidget, T.J. Hooker and Star Trek: Deep Area 9, died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, his son Jim Moret has confirmed; pictured August 2014 in Las Vegas
‘I at all times thought he would pull by means of,’ Moret informed The Hollywood Reporter. ‘As a result of he was so cool. He was at all times cool.’
The Philly native was impressed as a toddler to turn into an entertainer and would journey to review performing in New York Metropolis, the place he was ultimately linked with Columbia Photos expertise scout Joyce Selznick and signed with the studio.
In 1956, he made his film debut reverse Ryan Blake within the crime drama Rumble on the Docks.
He additionally made appearances in Operation Mad Ball, The Brothers Rico, The Tijuana Story and Gunman’s Stroll.
Darren rose to fame and have become generally known as a teen heartthrob after touchdown the function of a surfer named Moondoggie within the 1959 romantic comedy Gidget.
After its preliminary launch, the teenager idol additionally starred within the sequels Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963).
Early in his profession, he additionally starred within the 1949 film Knock on Any Door, the 1960 flick Let No Man Write my Epitaph, and the 1961 motion journey conflict movie The Weapons of Navarone.
Darren was additionally famend for his recurring function as police officer Jim Corrigan on the drama sequence T.J. Hooker.
Darren rose to fame and have become generally known as a teen heartthrob after touchdown the function of a surfer named Moondoggie within the 1959 romantic comedy Gidget; seen in a 1959 Gidget promo nonetheless
After its preliminary launch, he additionally starred within the sequels Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome; pictured: Cliff Robertson, Sandra Dee, James Darren in a 1958 promo nonetheless for Gidget
Darren was additionally famend for his recurring function as police officer Jim Corrigan on the drama sequence T.J. Hooker; from left to proper: Heather Locklear, James, Adrian Zmed and William Shatner (in entrance) seen in a 1985 promo nonetheless from T.J. Hooker
In 1986, Darren added directing to his already spectacular resume when he was an emergency fill-in for the director of T.J. Hooker for its remaining season; pictured alongside Heather Locklear in 1985 nonetheless from T.J. Hooker
Darren starred on 66 episodes throughout 4 seasons because the present’s inception in 1982.
He was additionally recognized for his work on Star Trek: Deep Area 9.
On the sci-fi sequence from the late Nineties, he performed a recurring function of a holographic lounge singer named Vic Fontaine.
Darren additionally portrayed an electronics genius Dr. Tony Newman within the journey sequence, The Time Tunnel, that ran from 1966 to 1967 on ABC.
In an interview with Tom Beaver for the movie historian’s 2008 guide, I Talked With A Zombie, Darren stated he had little interest in working in tv or doing any science fiction initiatives previous to his assembly with the creator of The Time Tunnel, Irwin Allen.
Darren recalled Allen telling him: ‘That is one thing you must do. I do know you do not wish to do it, however I believe you might be excellent for this function.
He added: ‘And he satisfied me. Irwin was one of many nice salespersons of our time. I accepted the function due to my assembly with him.’
In 1986, Darren added directing to his already spectacular resume when he was an emergency fill-in for the director of T.J. Hooker for its remaining season.
Afterwards, he found his knack for filmmaking too and went on to helm episodes of Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Melrose Place, Werewolf, The A-Staff and Beverly Hills, 90210; pictured with Sandra Dee in 1959 nonetheless from Gidget
Along with performing and directing, Darren was additionally a pop singer. His music Goodbye Merciless World reached No. 3 on the Billboard Scorching 100 chart in 1961. The next yr, his music titled Her Royal Majesty, which was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, additionally cracked the highest 10; pictured in February 1977
Afterwards, he found his knack for filmmaking too and went on to helm episodes of Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Melrose Place, Werewolf, The A-Staff and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Along with performing and directing, Darren was additionally a pop singer.
His music Goodbye Merciless World reached No. 3 on the Billboard Scorching 100 chart in 1961.
The next yr, his music titled Her Royal Majesty, which was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, additionally cracked the highest 10.
It wasn’t till the late ’90s when he would revive his singing profession for the syndicated Star Trek: Deep Area 9 sequence.
Early in his profession, he additionally starred within the 1949 film Knock on Any Door, the 1960 flick Let No Man Write my Epitaph, and the 1961 motion journey conflict movie The Weapons of Navarone; from left to proper: Irene Papas, James Darren, Stanley Baker, David Niven, George Mikell, Athony Quinn in 1961 nonetheless from The Weapons of Navarone
; from left to proper: Irene Papas, James Darren, Anthony Quayle, David Niven, Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Gia Scala seen in a 1961 nonetheless from The Weapons of Navarone
He recorded a number of Frank Sinatra-inspired performances for the 1999 album This One’s From the Coronary heart as he portrayed a holographic lounge singer — a task which he referred to as ‘one of the gratifying’ he had ever performed.
Darren went on to spend a few years out of the general public eye earlier than he returned to Hollywood for Harry Dean Stanton’s 2017 and remaining movie Fortunate.
He was married to childhood sweetheart Gloria Terlitsky from 1955 till their 1958 divorce. In 1960, he married Evy Norlund, a former Miss Denmark.
Darren is survived by Norlund and three sons. Along with Moret, he’s survived by Christian and Anthony in addition to grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie and Nicholas; and goddaughter A.J. Lambert, the daughter of Nancy Sinatra.
