James Darren, an actor, director, and singer best known for his breakout role as Moondoggie in the 1959 film *Gidget*, passed away on Monday at the age of 88, Variety reported.
Darren died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, according to Variety, which cited his son, Jim Moret, a chief correspondent for *Inside Edition*. CNN has reached out to Darren's and Moret’s representatives for comment.
In response to a tribute on X from singer Nancy Sinatra, Moret expressed his gratitude: “Nancy, my father loved you. Thank you so much for your kind and loving words.”
Darren's career, which began in 1956 according to IMDb, 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 his realization of his Hollywood fame: “The defining moment was when I was at a studio in San Francisco and word got out that I was there. Thousands of girls were screaming out front. When I had to leave the building, they tackled me to the ground and pulled pieces of my hair out. The police had to rescue me and took me to the roof until things settled down. It was total pandemonium.”
In *Gidget*, Darren played Moondoggie, a surfer who rescues the titular character and eventually becomes her love interest. He reprised his role in two subsequent Gidget films: *Gidget Goes Hawaiian* (1961) and *Gidget Goes to Rome* (1963).
Darren also had notable supporting roles in *The Time Tunnel*, *TJ Hooker* alongside William Shatner, and *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*. Additionally, he 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.
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