James Darren, Teen Idol Actor in Gidget Singer and Director dies at 88

Deep Space Nine and TJ Hooker and a singer and director died Monday at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 88.

He found a new generation of fans in 1988 as Vic Fontaine the holographic lounge singer on Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

He is survived by his spouse Evy sons Jim Moret Tony Darren and Christian Darren and five grandchildren.

Darren was a regular on TJ Hooker from 1983 to 1986 and also moved into TV directing working on series consisting Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.

His son Jim Moret add that he had been able to show his love for his family while being treated in cardiac unit/ He was a good man. He was very talented. He was forever young.

He was born in Philadelphia 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 movies including Operation Mad Ball and Gunmen Walk. He also star in 1959 teen movie Gidget staring Cliff Robertson and Sandra Dee.

The Gidget theme song launched a singer career for Darren who had a gold record with Goodbye Cruel World in 1961 and released at least 14 albums.

He appear in feature films including The Guns of Navarone. The Gene Krupa Story All the Young Men Because They are Young.

He starred in TV Series The Time Tunnel and after a brief sojourn in italy in Jess Franco Venus in Furs.

He performed his role as Moondoggie in Gidget Goes Hawaiian and again in Gidget Goes to Rome though he was tired of the typecasting by then.

Darren mega hit as singe came with Gloria Shayne written Goodbye Cruel World reached No 3 on Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.

He get the top 10 again in 1962 with Her Royal Majesty written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

In early 70 he sang and played the straight man in lounge act with comic Buddy Hackett.

Darren gained his singing career in late 90 when he appeared on episodes of syndicated series Star Trek Deep Space Nine as the holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine.

James was born on June 8, 1936 growing up on South 10th Street in South Philadelphia.