James Darren facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Darren
Darren in 1966
Born	James William Ercolani (1936-06-08)June 8, 1936 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 2, 2024(2024-09-02) (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1956–2024
Known for	Actor, singer, director
Notable work	Moondoggie in Gidget Tony Newman in The Time Tunnel Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Spouse(s)	Gloria Terlitsky ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1958)​ Evy Norlund ​ ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	3, including Jim Moret

James William Ercolani (June 8, 1936 – September 2, 2024), known as James Darren, was an American actor, director, and singer. He was famous in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He starred in movies like Gidget (1959) and The Guns of Navarone (1961).

As a pop singer, he had hit songs like "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961. Later, he worked a lot in television. He played Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction show The Time Tunnel (1966–1967). He was also Officer James Corrigan in the police drama T. J. Hooker (1983–1986). Many people also remember him as Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999).

Early life

James Darren was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 8, 1936. His family was from Italy.

Darren always wanted to be an actor. He studied acting in New York City for several years. He also sang sometimes. He once said, "I wasn't really a singer. I was a kid in Philly whose dad would take him to bars and nightclubs and I would get up and sing two songs."

Career

James Darren was discovered by a talent agent named Joyce Selznick. This happened after he had some photos taken for agents.

He said, "Her secretary asked me if I wanted to get into film. I said yes. She set up a meeting with Joyce Selznick." Joyce worked for Screen Gems. "We happened to get on the elevator at the same time. She kept staring at me. That was our meeting." Joyce then helped him get a contract with Columbia Pictures.

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures signed Darren to a long-term contract in July 1956. A few weeks later, he filmed his first movie, Rumble on the Docks (1956). This was a low-budget film where Darren played the main role. Fans really liked his performance. He received a lot of fan mail, second only to actress Kim Novak at the studio.

Darren also appeared on a TV show called The Web. Then, Columbia gave him a supporting role in a bigger movie. This was the comedy Operation Mad Ball (1957). It starred famous actors Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs.

He had supporting roles in two films directed by Phil Karlson. These were The Brothers Rico (1957), a dark crime film, and Gunman's Walk (1958), a Western. In between, he was in another movie, The Tijuana Story (1957).

Gidget and singing

With Bob Hope and Jo Stafford, 1961

With Shelley Fabares in The Donna Reed Show, 1959

Evy Norlund and James Darren on their honeymoon in Rome in 1960

Darren played Moondoggie in the popular surf film Gidget (1959). He was the main male actor in the movie. He also sang the movie's theme song. He recalled, "They were thinking about having someone else sing. I told them I could do it." The film was very popular with teenagers, and so was his song.

Darren then recorded many pop songs for Colpix Records. His biggest hit was "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc award. He also sang this song in Italian, which was popular in Europe. His other hits included "Her Royal Majesty" (1962) and "Conscience" (1962).

In 1959 and 1961, Darren played teen idols on The Donna Reed Show. He also appeared on an episode of The Lineup (1959).

Darren had roles in other Columbia films. These included The Gene Krupa Story (1959), a movie about a real person, and All the Young Men (1960), a Korean War movie. He also appeared in Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960). He had a small role as himself in Because They're Young (1960), singing the title song.

He had a supporting role in the World War II movie The Guns of Navarone (1961). This movie was a huge success. He also played Moondoggie again in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961). He was the top-billed actor in that film.

Darren had a good supporting role in the drama Diamond Head (1962). He played Moondoggie a third time in Gidget Goes to Rome (1962). He later said he did not want to do that movie. He sang the title song for Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963).

He also did voice work for Hanna-Barbera cartoons. He was a cartoon character named "Jimmy Darrock" on The Flintstones. He was also the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the movie Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964).

Darren's contract with Columbia ended in 1963. He did not renew it. He continued to record music for Colpix until 1965. Then, he signed with Warner Bros. Records. He had another Top-40 hit called "All" in 1967.

Universal

In 1963, Darren signed a deal for seven movies with Universal. His first film with them was The Lively Set (1963). He worked with Pamela Tiffin in that movie. She was also in For Those Who Think Young (1964).

Irwin Allen

Darren appeared as a guest star on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. This show was produced by Irwin Allen. Allen then cast Darren as the main character in a new science fiction series. He played Dr. Tony Newman in The Time Tunnel (1966–1967). After that show ended, Allen made a pilot for another series with Darren, but it was not picked up.

Darren then went to Europe to make Venus in Furs (1969). He worked with Irwin Allen again in City Beneath the Sea (1971).

TV guest star

In the 1970s, Darren often performed in night clubs. He also appeared as a guest star on many TV shows. Some of these included Love, American Style, S.W.A.T., Police Woman, Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island.

He also had a role in the TV movie The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975).

Portrait of a Legend

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Darren hosted a weekly show called Portrait of a Legend. On this show, he would interview popular musicians. They would talk about their careers. The show also featured classic performances by the artists.

TJ Hooker and directing

Darren in 2015

Later, Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the TV police drama T. J. Hooker. He was on the show from 1983 to 1986.

Darren said in 1983, "Every career has its ups and downs. The most important thing is that you are happy with yourself."

He also started directing TV shows. He directed action series like Hunter and The A-Team. He also directed dramas such as Beverly Hills, 90210.

He continued to act on shows like Raven.

Deep Space Nine

In 1998, James Darren became popular again as a singer. This was because of his role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He played Vic Fontaine, a singing hologram and adviser. His role on the show made him want to sing again. Many of his songs from the show were re-recorded for his album This One's from the Heart (1999). This album showed Darren singing in the style of his friend, Frank Sinatra. His next album, Because of You (2001), was inspired by Tony Bennett.

Later, he appeared in the films Random Acts (2001) and Lucky (2017).

Personal life and death

James Darren with Gloria Terlitsky and son James Jr.

In 1955, Darren married Gloria Terlitsky. They had been together since 1953. They had a son named James Jr. They divorced in 1958. Their son, James Jr., was later adopted by Gloria's third husband. He is now known as the journalist Jim Moret.

Two years after his divorce, Darren married Evy Norlund. She was Miss Denmark in 1958. They had two sons, Christian and Anthony.

James Darren passed away in his sleep on September 2, 2024. He was 88 years old. He died in Los Angeles.

Selected discography

Singles

Albums

• 1960 James Darren No. 1 (reissued 2004)
• 1961 Sings the Movies (Gidget Goes Hawaiian)
• 1962 Love Among the Young (reissued 2004)
• 1962 Sings for All Sizes
• 1963 Bye Bye Birdie (with The Marcels, Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares)
• 1963 Teenage Triangle (with Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen)
• 1964 More Teenage Triangle (with Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares)
• 1967 All (reissued 2005)
• 1971 Mammy Blue
• 1972 Love Songs from the Movies
• 1994 The Best of James Darren
• 1999 This One's from the Heart
• 2001 Because of You
• 2019 Live! For The First Time

Many other collections of his songs also exist.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: James Darren para niños