James Darren was an actor best known for his role as Moondoggie in the “Gidget” film series, passed away on September 2. He was 88.

The former teen idol died in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.  His son Jim Moret, told The Hollywood Reporter. “He had entered the hospital for an aortic valve replacement but was deemed too weak to have the surgery; he went home but had to return.” Moret added, “I always thought he would pull through, because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

Born on June 8, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Darren’s full name is James William Ercolani. His parents were Italian immigrants. He began his career as a singer, but it was his acting that made him famous.

Darren’s big break came when he was cast as Jeffrey “Moondoggie” Matthews, the love interest of the character Gidget, in the 1959 film Gidget. The movie, based on a novel by Frederick Kohner, was a huge success. It is often credited with sparking the surf movie craze of the 1960s. Darren starred alongside Sandra Dee, who played the title role of Gidget. She is a teenage girl who falls in love with surfing and Moondoggie.

The chemistry between Darren and Dee was intense. Darren played Moondoggie in two sequels: Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). These films defined his role as a teen idol of the era.

In addition to his work in the Gidget series, Darren had a successful music career. He recorded several hit singles. His song “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1961, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

After Gidget, Darren continued to act in various film and television roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in shows like The Time Tunnel (1966-1967), where he played the lead role of Tony Newman, a time-traveling scientist. Darren also made guest appearances on numerous popular TV shows.

In the later years of his career, Darren transitioned into directing. He directed episodes of popular television series, including T.J. Hooker, Hunter, and Melrose Place. He also starred on T.J. Hooker from 1983-1986. He worked with William Shatner and Heather Locklear.

James Darren was married twice, and had three children from his marriages. His first marriage was to Gloria Terlitsky in 1955, when he was just 19 years old. Gloria was his sweetheart from Philadelphia, and together they had one son, James Darren Jr., often referred to as Jim Moret. Jim Moret went on to become a successful journalist and television personality. He is currently working as a correspondent for Inside Edition.

Darren’s marriage to Gloria ended in divorce in 1959. Later that year, Darren married Evy Norlund, a former Miss Denmark. The couple has two sons, Christian Darren and Anthony Darren. Both of his sons have maintained a relatively private life. Christian works as a writer and director in the entertainment industry.

Rest In Peace