Actor James Darren, celebrated for his roles in films like Gidget and television series such as T.J. Hooker and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has passed away at the age of 88.
According to a report from TMZ, the beloved actor died peacefully in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Monday.
While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, Darren’s son, Jim Moret, shared with TMZ that his father had been experiencing heart problems and was receiving care in the cardiac unit at Cedars-Sinai.
It is reported that Darren initially went to the hospital for an aortic valve replacement but was deemed too frail to safely proceed with the surgery
He was sent home but returned to the hospital shortly thereafter.
“I always believed he would pull through,” his son Jim remarked, “because he was just so cool. He always had that coolness about him.”
Darren rose to fame as a teenage heartthrob when he took on the role of surfer Moondoggie in the 1959 film Gidget. He later reprised this character in the sequels Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome.
In addition to his film work, the actor had a notable recurring role as Officer Jim Corrigan on T.J. Hooker, appearing in 66 episodes over four seasons.
Aside from acting, James also pursued a singing career and performed the theme song for Gidget. Reports indicate that he directed several episodes of popular shows such as Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, and The A-Team, among others.
Rest in peace, James Darren.