James Darren(1936-2024)

Actor
Director
Soundtrack

Play trailer2:01

T.J. Hooker (1982–1986)

Good-looking James Darren was a student of acting coach Stella Adler and made his name in the 1950s in a series of teenage-themed films. A better actor than most of his contemporary teenage heartthrobs, he nevertheless found it difficult to escape the teen-idol image he got in pictures like Gidget (1959) and Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961). He also gained fame in the early and mid-1960s as a singer, with several hits to his credit, including "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Her Royal Majesty". His film work tapered off in the 1960s, but he did much TV work and had two hit series, The Time Tunnel (1966) in the 1960s and T.J. Hooker (1982) in the 1980s.

IMDbProStarmeter See rank

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Photos180

+ 174

Known for

The Guns of Navarone

7.5

Spyros Pappadimos

1961

Gidget

6.6

Jeffrey Matthews aka Moondoggie

1959

Lucky

7.3

Paulie

2017

T.J. Hooker

6.1

TV Series

Officer Jim Corrigan
Dan Danko

Credits

IMDbPro

Actor

Lucky
7.3
- Paulie
- 2017
Random Acts
6.4
- Allen
- 2001
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8.1
TV Series
- Vic Fontaine
- 1998–1999
Melrose Place
6.0
TV Series
- Tony Marlin
- 1999
Diagnosis Murder
6.9
TV Series
- Councilman Matthew Watson
- 1997
Silk Stalkings
6.6
TV Series
- 1994
Renegade
6.0
TV Series
- Lou Delgado
- 1992
Raven
7.4
TV Series
- Billy Sharp (uncredited)
- 1992
T.J. Hooker
6.1
TV Series
- Officer Jim Corrigan
- Dan Danko
- 1982–1986
One Day at a Time
6.6
TV Series
- Roger Alexander
- 1983
Fantasy Island
6.6
TV Series
- Claude Duvalle
- Michael Duvall
- Brian Holmes
- 1979–1982
Scruples
7.2
TV Movie
- Vito
- 1981
The Love Boat
6.3
TV Series
- Tony Streeter
- 1981
Turnover Smith
6.2
TV Movie
- Georgie Green
- 1980
Vega$
6.9
TV Series
- Paul Bracken
- 1980

Director

Melrose Place
6.0
TV Series
- Director
- 1996–1997
Savannah
7.2
TV Series
- Director
- 1996–1997
Beverly Hills, 90210
6.6
TV Series
- Director
- 1996
Silk Stalkings
6.6
TV Series
- Director
- 1994–1995
Nowhere Man
8.3
TV Series
- Director
- 1995
Renegade
6.0
TV Series
- Director
- 1994
Walker, Texas Ranger
5.7
TV Series
- Director
- 1993
Raven
7.4
TV Series
- Director
- 1992–1993
Tequila and Bonetti
6.4
TV Series
- Director
- 1992
Hunter
6.9
TV Series
- Director
- 1987–1991
Hardball
7.2
TV Series
- Director
- 1990
Something Is Out There
6.6
TV Series
- Director
- 1988
Police Story: Gladiator School
6.3
TV Movie
- Director
- 1988
Werewolf
7.8
TV Series
- Director
- 1987–1988
Stingray
7.4
TV Series
- Director
- 1987

Soundtrack

The Fabelmans
7.5
- performer: "Goodbye Cruel World"
- 2022
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8.2
- performer: "The Best Is Yet to Come"
- 2018
Vegas
7.3
TV Series
- performer: "Come Fly With Me"
- 2013
The King of Queens
7.4
TV Series
- performer: "Come Fly with Me"
- 2004
Chooch
4.3
- performer: "More Today Than Yesterday"
- 2003
Hearts in Atlantis
6.9
- performer: "Come Fly with Me"
- 2001
JAG
6.7
TV Series
- performer: "Come Fly with Me" (uncredited)
- 2001
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)
6.7
TV Movie
- performer: "Because They're Young"
- 2000
Down to You
5.0
- performer: "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You"
- 2000
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
8.1
TV Series
- performer: "The Way You Look Tonight"
- performer: "Alamo", "The Best is Yet to Come"
- performer: "I'll Be Seeing You", "I've Got the World on a String", "Just in Time", "It's Only a Paper Moon" (uncredited, uncredited, uncredited, uncredited, uncredited) ...
- 1998–1999
Chevrolet Presents the Golddiggers
6.9
TV Series
- performer: "Proud Mary"
- 1972
Hollywood a Go Go
7.9
TV Series
- performer: "Tom Hawk"
- 1966
The Lively Set
5.8
- performer: "The Lively Set"
- 1964
For Those Who Think Young
5.2
- performer: "For Those Who Think Love"
- 1964
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear
6.5
- performer: "Ven-E, Ven-O, Ven-A"
- 1964

Videos15

Trailer 2:51

Trailer

Trailer 2:52

For Those Who Think Young Official Trailer

Trailer 2:52

For Those Who Think Young Official Trailer

The Guns of Navarone: Trailer

Trailer 1:24

Hey There, It's Yogi Bear

Personal details

Alternative names
- James & Evy
Height
- 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
Born
- June 8, 1936
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died
- September 2, 2024
- Los Angeles, California, USA(congestive heart failure)
Spouses
Children
Parents
Relatives
- John Darren(Sibling)
Other works
Recordings (notable singles): "Gidget" (Colpix 113, 1959); "Angel Face" (Colpix 119, 1959); "Because They're Young" (Colpix 142, 1960); "Goodbye Cruel World"/"Valerie" (Colpix 609, 1961); "Her Royal Majesty"/"If I Could Only Tell You" (Colpix 622, 1962); "Conscience"/"Dream Big" (Colpix 630, 1962); "Mary's Little Lamb"/"The Life of the Party" (Colpix 644, 1962); "Hail to the Conquering Hero" (Colpix 655, 1962); "Pin a Medal on Joey"/"Diamond Head" (Colpix 672, 1963); "All" (Warner Bros., 1966); "You Take My Heart Away" (Private Stock, 1977)
Publicity listings

Did you know

Trivia
Godfather of A.J. Lambert, who is the daughter of Nancy Sinatra and granddaughter of Frank Sinatra. Darren was a close friend of Sinatra and his family.