The actor, singer, and director, James Darren, who was famous for his role of “Moondoggie” in the “Gidget” that premiered in 1959, is dead at 88 years old, according to a report by Variety.
Variety reported that the talented actor passed away at Cedars-Sinai Hospital located in Los Angeles, citing his son Jim Moret, a chief correspondent for Inside Edition.
Moret responded to singer Nancy Sinatra’s comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, with: “Nancy My father loved you. Thank you so much for your kind and loving words.”
During Darren’s lifetime, he had a lot of works in his name across television and film that started as early as 1956, as seen on IMDb. His role of “Moondoggie” in the “Gidget” catapulted him before teenage moviegoers.
He played the role of a surfer who saved the main character from a bed of kelp and finally turned to her romantic interest in the movie, Gidget.
That was not the only time he featured in the Gidget, as he was subsequently seen in both 1961’s “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and 1963’s “Gidget Goes to Rome.”.
Other of his works include the supporting roles that he played in “The Time Tunnel,” “TJ Hooker,” where William Shatner also featured, including “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
As a director, he directed episodes of shows that include “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place.”
