James Darren: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy in Entertainment

James Darren: A Brief Overview

James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film "Gidget," died Monday at 88. Darren died in his sleep at a Los Angeles hospital, his son Jim Moret told news outlets. Moret revealed that Darren was supposed to have had an aortic valve replacement but was too weak for the surgery.

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Darren was born James Ercolani in 1936 and grew up in South Philadelphia. Singing came naturally to him, and at 14, he was already appearing in local nightclubs. According to a 1958 Los Angeles Times profile, he got a break when he visited New York for photos and was introduced to a talent scout.

Cultural Impact and Career Highlights

He is best remembered as Moondoggie, the dark-haired surfer boy in the smash 1959 release "Gidget." Aside from his acting career, Darren transitioned from starring on the hit series "T.J. Hooker" to directing, receiving numerous offers to helm episodes of popular shows.

Personal Life

Darren married his first wife, Gloria, in 1955, and together they had Jim Moret, an esteemed correspondent and former CNN anchorman. After their divorce, he married Evy Norlund, who represented Denmark in the Miss Universe contest. Together, they had two sons, Christian and Anthony.