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CNN — James Darren, the versatile actor, director, and singer best known for his breakout role as Moondoggie in the 1959 film “Gidget,” has died at the age of 88, according to Variety.
Darren passed away at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. His son, Jim Moret, a chief correspondent for Inside Edition, confirmed the news. CNN has reached out to representatives for Darren and Moret for additional comments.
In response to a tribute post from singer Nancy Sinatra on X, Moret shared, “Nancy, my father loved you. Thank you so much for your kind and loving words.”
Darren’s career, which began in 1956, spanned both film and television. His role in “Gidget” elevated him to heartthrob status among teenage audiences. In a 2015 interview with Los Angeles magazine, Darren recounted a memorable moment of fame: “I was at a studio in San Francisco, and when word got out that I was there, thousands of girls were screaming outside. When I left the building, they tackled me and pulled pieces of my hair out. The police had to rescue me and take me to the roof until things calmed down. It was total pandemonium.”
In “Gidget,” Darren portrayed Moondoggie, a surfer who saves the main character from a kelp bed and eventually becomes her love interest. He also appeared in two sequels: “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961) and “Gidget Goes to Rome” (1963).
Darren's extensive career included supporting roles in “The Time Tunnel,” “TJ Hooker” with William Shatner, and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He also directed episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.”
Born in Philadelphia, Darren studied acting in New York before signing with Columbia Pictures. He is survived by his wife Evy, three children, and five grandchildren.