James Darren Dies: The ‘Gidget’ And ‘T.J. Hooker’ Star Was 88

James Darren, the former teen idol and pop singer who found success on film in the Gidget franchise and on television in the Aaron Spelling-produced crime drama T.J. Hooker, died in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday. He was 88.

Born James William Ercolani on June 8, 1936 in Philadelphia, James Darren studied acting with Stella Adler and was discovered by casting director Joyce Selznick. After signing a contract with Columbia in 1956, he began filming his first movie, Rumble on the Docks.

Darren bowed on television as a guest star in the drama anthology The Web, and starting building his resume with roles on the big screen in comedy Operation Mad Ball, film noir entry The Brothers Rio, drama The Tijuana Story, all in 1957, and western Gunman’s Walk in 1958.

In 1959, Darren played Moondoggie in the teen surf flick Gidget and also sang the title track. That led to a series of pop hits for Colpix Record, including Goodbye Cruel World.

Darren’s next string of films included The Gene Krupa Story (1959), All the Young Men and Let No Man Write My Epitaph, both in 1960, and The Guns of Navarone (1961). He also returned for two additional Gidget movie: Gidget Goes Hawaiian in 1961 and Gidget Goes to Rome in 1962.

In 1963, Darren signed a seven-picture deal with Universal, which began with drama sport film The Lively Set in 1963.

Guest spots in the 1970s included series Love, American Style, S.W.A.T., Police Woman, Black Sheep Squadron, Charlie’s Angels, Police Story and Hawaii-Five. In 1982, Darren began his four season role as Officer Jim Corrigan on the crime drama T.J. Hooker opposite William Shatner.

After directing a few episodes of T.J. Hooker, Darren segued to the role of director in episodes of TV series like Hunter, The A-Team, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place. He also had recurring roles in Melrose Place and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Darren is survived by his wife Evy; sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren and Anthony Darren; and grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie and Nicholas.