RIP: Moondoggie

Apparently, I was like Joyce Selznick, who helped get actor/singer James Darren his big break.

I couldn't stop staring at him. So good-looking, even in his later roles, where he didn't appear old, just really distinguished-looking.

For someone probably considered one of the first teen idols, he had a pretty varied, accomplished career -- going from "Gidget," to "The Guns of Navarrone," to "T.J. Hooker," to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," etc.

James Darren, Actor, Singer and ‘Gidget’ Heartthrob, Dies at 88

I was surprised not to see an RIP thread for him. He was 88.

 

My mom talked about him today. Apparently he was dreamy back in the day.

 

Man the Guns of Navarrone was awesome (when I was 7), "no ship was getting past there!"; and forgot he was Ulrich's boss in TJ Hooker (but we were watching for Heather, not Ulrich or him right?)

 

Bill Shatner just bolted upright and said, "WHAT THE FUCK!?!!"

 

I remember him in the '60s Irwin Allen sci-fi series "The Time Tunnel." I thought it was pretty good, but then I was 12 years old.

 

RIP
Wasn't his son once a CNN anchor?

 

I'm sure you did. I watched for Darren (and William Shatner). I wouldn't normally post/link something off Fox News, but there a nice picture, for the both of us, in this link.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/james-darren-gidget-tj-hooker-star-dead-88

 

It says in the link of the post above that his son, Jim Moret, is an "Inside Edition" chief correspondent. But before that, yes, if you look him up, he also was CNN's primary correspondent for the O.J. Simpson trial and has done some work for ABC in the past. He has had a good mix of news and entertainment work throughout his career.

 

Hopefully, Vic Fontaine will be singing for a full house tonight. RIP.