James Darren, Beloved Star Of Gidget And TJ Hooker, Dies At 88 After Being Hospitalized For Heart-Related Issues

by

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for Hollywood history, I find myself reflecting upon the life and career of James Darren, who has recently left us at the age of 88. Born in Philadelphia, this former teen idol rose to fame as the dreamy surfer Moondoggie in the Gidget movies before gracing our screens on television shows such as The Time Tunnel and T.J. Hooker.

88-year-old actor James Darren, famously known for his roles as the romantic surfer Moondoggie in the Gidget movies and later on TV shows The Time Tunnel and T.J. Hooker, has tragically passed away. According to his son Jim Moret, a correspondent for Inside Edition, he died peacefully in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday, August 2.

According to TMZ’s report, Moret shared that his father was admitted to the hospital for an aortic valve replacement surgery, but due to his weak condition, he was discharged. Unfortunately, he had to go back to the healthcare facility later on.

In his statement to THR, Moret expressed, “I believed he’d recover because he was so calm and collected. He was consistently calm.”

It was announced on social media by Nancy Sinatra that her dearest, longtime friend James Darren had passed away. In an emotional post on Instagram, she wrote: “One of my most cherished friends in this world, a friend for life, has left us. I send my deepest condolences to his goddaughter, AJ [@aj.lambert]. May you have a swift and peaceful journey through the cosmos and beyond. Farewell, dear Jimmy Jr., Godspeed. Here are two special memories we shared: one from AJ’s baptism, and another of us together.”

As a passionate admirer, let me share my tale: I was born on June 8, 1936, in the vibrant city of Philadelphia. Yet, my heart belonged to the glamorous world of Hollywood, and I was determined to make it there. My mentor, the legendary Stella Adler, guided me through the intricacies of acting, and I made regular pilgrimages to New York to learn from her wisdom.

Darren was also a director and a singer. He demonstrated his direction abilities for the first time in 1986 as an emergency fill-in during the final season of T.J. Hooker. He went on to helm episodes of Melrose Place, Werewolf, Beverly Hills, 90210, Silk Stalkings, and more. As for his crooning talent, Darren’s greatest impact as a singer came with Gloria Shayne’s Goodbye Cruel World, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. He again claimed a spot in the top 10 in 1962 with Her Royal Majesty, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Darren sang Almost in Your Arms at the 1959 Academy Awards and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World on the 1964 Oscar telecast.

He revived his singing career in the late ’90s when he appeared in several episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine.

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share the life journey of Darren, who married his cherished childhood sweetheart Gloria Terlitsky in 1955. However, their union ended in 1958 by divorce. Subsequently, he tied the knot with Evy Norlund, a captivating former Miss Denmark, in 1960, and they remained bound together until his last breath. Beyond his wife and dear companion Moret, Darren leaves behind his sons Christian and Anthony, grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie, and Nicholas, and his beloved goddaughter AJ Lambert.

Read More

2024-09-03 07:07