James Darren
It was reported he died peacefully in his sleep on Monday at the age of 88.
Moret’s son, Jim Moret says the actor — best known for his roles on “Gidget,” “T.J. Hooker” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital Saturday morning in L.A.
The Hollywood Reporter March 29, 2019’I always thought he would pull through,’ Moret said. ‘Because he was so cool. He was always cool.’
My father was supposed to have been due for an aortic valve replacement but he was too weak and they said no. Darren was sent home before being rushed to hospital where he died more than three hours later.
A long career followed for Darren, who later acted and did some singing before becoming a television director best known for episodes of the 90s staples “Beverly Hills 90210” and Melrose Place. He appeared on the cop show “T.J. Hooker” in 1980s as Officer Jim Corrigan.
Yet to young moviegoers of the late 1950s, he was best known as Moondoggie, Gidget’s brunette surfer boy from the box office hit “Gidget” (1959). In the movie, Dee played the title role of a rambunctious and free-spirited resident from Southern California with an affinity for surfboarding before love-struck Moondoggie catches her eye.
Darren would later remember, “I was in love with Sandra.” I was like, ‘She’s Gidget! She had tremendous charm.”
The Philly native decided he wanted to move into show business while still a kid, studying acting in New York City and landing an agent pick from Columbia Pictures talent scout Joyce Selznick.
He had a bump-up part in his first movie, playing opposite Ryan Blake in the crime drama Rumble on the Docks (1956).
He had supporting roles in Operation Mad Ball, The Brothers Rico, The Tijuana Story and Gunman’s Walk.
In high school, Darren became a teen heartthrob when signed to play Moondoggie in the romantic comedy Gidget (1959).
Later the same year, they released Gidget Goes to Rome in 1963.
His screen credits include roles in a 1949 movie, Knock on Any Door, the 1960 film Let No Man Write my Epitaph and an Anthropoid of Navarone (1961), war action adventure.
Darren also was known for his role as the recurring character of police officer Jim Corrigan on T.J. Hooker, a drama series.
