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James Darren, star of “Gidget” and “TJ Hooker,” dies at the age of 88

Idris Bevan September 3, 2024

James Darren, known for his role as a teenage surfing star in “Gidget,” has died.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Darren died on Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Jim Moret, Darren’s son and Inside Edition correspondent, said the 88-year-old actor needed an aortic valve replacement but was not strong enough for the operation.

“I always thought he would make it because he was so cool,” Moret told the outlet. “He was always cool.”

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Sandra Dee and James Darren in a scene from Gidget

James Darren starred as Moondoggie in “Gidget.” (Getty Images)

During his long career, Darren has worked as an actor and singer and, behind the scenes, built a successful career as a television director, directing episodes of such well-known series as “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place”.

However, his breakthrough came as a teenage surfer star in the 1959 film “Gidget.” Darren played Moondoggie alongside Sandra Dee in the title role.

“I was in love with Sandra,” Darren later recalled. “I thought she was absolutely perfect as Gidget. She had an incredible charm.”

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James Darren starred alongside Heather Locklear and William Shatner in “TJ Hooker.” (Getty Images)

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Despite the film’s success, Darren was the only original cast member to appear in the two follow-up films, Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome. Gidget was played by Deborah Walley in the second film and Cindy Carol in the third.

“I always thought he would make it because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

— James Darren’s son, Jim Moret

“They signed me, I was a prisoner,” Darren told Entertainment Weekly in 2004. “But with these lovely young ladies, it was the best prison I’ll ever be in.”

Darren took a break from acting and singing after taking the opportunity to direct TJ Hooker, in which he played the role of Officer Jim Corrigan. He later returned to the big screen with roles in Melrose Place and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.