James Darren Death: Teen Idol Actor in ‘Gidget,’ Singer and Director James Darren, Dies at 88

James Darren, who rose to fame as a teenage idol performing in kid-friendly films like “Gidget” and later starred in TV series like “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “T.J. Hooker,” in addition to being a musician and filmmaker, passed away on Monday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was eighty-eight.

While receiving treatment in the cardiac unit, Jim Moret, his son, was able to convey his affection for his family. “He was a decent man.” He had a lot of talent, Moret remarked. “He was youthful forever.”

Moret expressed his gratitude to his father for continuing to engage with his fans and for being able to accept his iconic role as surfer Moondoggie in the “Gidget” film.

Born in Philadelphia, he studied acting with Stella Adler in New York and was signed to Columbia Pictures, where his first role was in “Rumble on the Docks.” He went on to appear in films including “Operation Madball” and “Gunmen’s Walk” before being cast in the 1959 teen movie “Gidget,” starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson. Darren also sang the title track for the hit movie, which was based on the experiences of a teenaged surfer girl in Malibu and later became a popular TV series.