James Darren, widely recognized for his role as the charming Moondoggie in the Gidget films, has peacefully passed away at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 88. His son, Jim Moret, shared that Darren was dealing with a heart-related illness. Moret informed The Hollywood Reporter that his father was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement; however, the doctors deemed him too weak for the surgery. The family had hoped for his recovery, but sadly, that was not to be.

Despite being discharged from the hospital, Darren’s health worsened, necessitating his return. Moret expressed his belief in his father’s resilience, stating, “I always thought he would pull through. Because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

Darren enjoyed a prolific career in both acting and music. He starred in 66 episodes of T.J. Hooker as Officer Jim Corrigan and appeared in notable films such as The Guns of Navarone and the sci-fi series The Time Tunnel. Additionally, he made guest appearances on popular shows like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Perhaps most memorably, he was the beloved surfer boy Moondoggie in the Gidget franchise.

In the 1990s, he had a recurring role as the holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Darren was also known for his musical contributions, including the theme song for Gidget and the hit single “Goodbye Cruel World,” which climbed the charts in 1961.