Moondoggie in “Gidget”, singer and director was 88

James Darren, who went from being a teen idol in youth films such as “Gidget” to acting in television series such as “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “TJ Hooker” and also becoming a singer and director, died on Monday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 88 years old.

His son, Jim Moret, said he was able to express his love for his family while being treated in the cardiac unit. “He was a good man. He was very talented,” Moret said. “He was eternally young.”

Moret said he was grateful that his father was able to take on his signature role as surfer Moondoggie in the movie “Gidget” and continue to interact with his fans.

Born in Philadelphia, Darren studied acting with Stella Adler in New York and was signed to Columbia Pictures, where he landed his first role in Rumble on the Docks. He then appeared in films such as Operation Madball and Gunmen’s Walk before being cast in the 1959 teen film Gidget, starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson. Darren also sang the theme song for the hit film, which was based on the adventures of a teenage surfer in Malibu and later became a popular television series.

The title song from Gidget was the beginning of a successful singing career for Darren, who received a gold record in 1961 with Goodbye Cruel World and released at least 14 albums. He continued to appear in feature films, including The Guns of Navarone, The Gene Krupa Story, All the Young Men and Because They’re Young.

He reprised his role as Moondoggie in Gidget Goes Hawaiian and again in Gidget Goes to Rome, although he was already tired of the cast by this time.

On television, he starred in the series “The Time Tunnel” and, after a brief stay in Italy where he appeared in Jess Franco’s “Venus in Fur”, he guest-starred in numerous series, including “Love, American Style”, “Fantasy Island” and “Love Boat”.

Darren was a regular on “TJ Hooker” from 1983 to 1986 and also moved into television directing, where he worked on series such as “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place”.

He found a new generation of fans in 1998 as Vic Fontaine, the holographic lounge singer in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

He leaves behind his wife Evy, his sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren and Tony Darren, and five grandchildren.