James Darren, an actor, director, and singer who became famous for his role as Moondoggie in the 1959 movie “Gidget,” passed away on Monday at age 88, according to Variety.
He died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, as reported by Variety and his son Jim Moret, who is a chief correspondent for Inside Edition. CNN has reached out to Darren’s and Moret’s agents for comment.
In response to a tribute post about Darren on X from singer Nancy Sinatra, Moret said: “Nancy, my father loved you. Thank you so much for your kind and loving words.”
James Darren Reflects on His Hollywood Fame: ‘Thousands of Girls Screaming and Tackling Me’
James Darren had a long career in film and TV starting in 1956, according to IMDb. However, his role in “Gidget” made him a teen heartthrob. In a 2015 interview with Los Angeles magazine, he described when he first realized he was a big deal in Hollywood.
Darren said, “The moment I knew I was famous was when I was at a studio in San Francisco and people found out I was there. Thousands of girls were screaming outside. When I tried to leave, they tackled me and even pulled out my hair. The police had to save me and took me to the roof until things calmed down. It was total chaos.”
James Darren: From ‘Gidget’ Heartthrob to Versatile Actor and Director
In “Gidget,” James Darren played Moondoggie, a surfer who saves the main character from kelp and later becomes her love interest. He also appeared in two more Gidget movies: “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961) and “Gidget Goes to Rome” (1963).
Darren had supporting roles in the shows “The Time Tunnel,” “TJ Hooker” (with William Shatner), and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He also directed episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.”
Born in Philadelphia, Darren studied acting in New York and was later signed by Columbia Pictures. He is survived by his wife Evy, three children, and five grandchildren.
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