James Darren, Star of "Gidget," Passes Away (1936–2022)

 James Darren, Star of "Gidget," Passes Away ( 1936–2022)

JAMES DARREN ( 1936–2022) Actor, Director & Singer Los Angeles, California – James Darren died Monday at the age of 88. The actor, best remembered for playing Moondoggie in 1959 movie "Gidget," had a long and formidable career on both the big and small screen across many decades.

In 1956, his acting career began and he swiftly became one of the biggest names around with a role as "the big kahuna surfer" in Gidget. Darren appeared in many movies and television series during his career, including "The Twilight Zone", "The Rockford Files" as well as guests on shows such as The Love Boat. He has also directed episodes for TV.

Besides acting and directing, Darren was a fabulous singer. He released a string of albums and charted with hits like "Dream Lover" and "Splish Splash."