CNN
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James Darren, an actor, director and singer who had his breakout function of Moondoggie within the 1959 film “Gidget,” died Monday at age 88, Variety reported.
The entertainer died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, based on Selection, citing his son Jim Moret, a chief correspondent for Inside Version. CNN has sought remark from Darren’s and Moret’s brokers.
In response to a publish paying tribute to Darren on X from singer Nancy Sinatra, Moret responded: “Nancy My father cherished you. Thanks a lot to your form and loving phrases.”
Darren had a prolonged resume spanning throughout movie and tv beginning as early as 1956, based on IMDb. However his function in “Gidget” helped him attain heartthrob standing within the eyes of teenage moviegoers. In a 2015 interview with Los Angeles magazine, he was requested when he first realized he was a Hollywood sensation.
“The defining second was once I was at a studio in San Francisco and phrase obtained out that I used to be there,” Darren stated within the interview. “Hundreds of ladies had been screaming out entrance. Once I needed to go away the constructing, they tackled me to the bottom and pulled items of my hair out. The police needed to rescue me and took me to the roof till issues settled down. It was whole pandemonium.”
In “Gidget,” Darren performed Moondoggie, a surfer who rescues the primary character from a mattress of kelp and finally turns into her romantic curiosity. He additionally appeared in two later Gidget motion pictures: 1961’s “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and 1963’s “Gidget Goes to Rome.”
Darren additionally had supporting roles within the present “The Time Tunnel,” “TJ Hooker” alongside co-star William Shatner, and “Star Trek: Deep House 9.” He additionally directed episodes of reveals together with “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.”
Born in Philadelphia, Darren studied performing in New York and finally was signed to Columbia Footage, Selection reported. He’s survived by his spouse Evy, his three youngsters and 5 grandchildren, the outlet stated.