James Darren, known for his roles in “Gidget” and “T.J. Hooker,” passed away at the age of 88 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His son, Jim Moret, revealed that his father died peacefully in his sleep after being deemed too weak to undergo aortic valve replacement surgery. Darren had a successful career in Hollywood, not only as an actor but also as a singer and director. His directing work included episodes of shows like “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Melrose Place,” among others.
In the 1950s, Darren achieved fame after landing the role of Moondoggie in the film “Gidget.” His career thrived in the 1980s when he starred as Officer Jim Corrigan in the popular TV show “T.J. Hooker.” Beyond acting, Darren also had a recording contract and released hit singles like “Goodbye Cruel World” and “Her Royal Majesty,” both of which made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Goodbye Cruel World” was even featured in Steven Spielberg’s film “The Fabelmans” soundtrack in 2022.
Throughout his career, Darren appeared in various TV shows, including being the lead in “The Time Tunnel” and making guest appearances on shows like “The Love Boat” and “Hawaii Five-O.” He became a series regular on “T.J. Hooker” alongside William Shatner and also appeared in episodes of “Star Trek, Deep Space Nine.” Additionally, Darren starred in several films produced by Columbia Studios, with his final movie role being in 2017’s “Lucky,” directed by John Carroll Lynch.
Born in 1936 in South Philadelphia as James Ercolani, Darren’s career took off after he was signed to Columbia Pictures following a chance encounter with a talent scout in New York City in 1958. He was married twice, first to Gloria, with whom he had a son named Moret, and then to Danish model Evy Norlund, with whom he had two sons. Darren was also the godfather to Nancy Sinatra’s daughter, A.J. Lambert, and Sinatra paid tribute to him on social media after his passing, expressing her love and sadness at his death.
Nancy Sinatra shared a heartfelt message for Darren, referring to him as one of her dearest friends and expressing her wishes for his peaceful journey through the universe. She thanked him for his love and friendship over the years. Moret, Darren’s son, responded to Sinatra’s post, thanking her for her kind words. Darren’s passing marked the end of a long and successful career in Hollywood, where he made a lasting impact through his work as an actor, singer, and director. His contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for years to come.
