James Darren, who played James in “The Time Tunnel” and “T.J. Hooker,” passed away at 88.:-
James Darren gget Surfer and cop on TJ hooker dies at 88 The Time Tunnel star also was a pop singer and a cuning hologram on Star Trek Deep Space 9 James Darren the former Teen Idol and pop singer who played the dreamy surf for moond doggy in three gigit movies before starring on television on The Time Tunnel and TJ hooker died Monday he was 88 Darren died in his sleep at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles his son Jim Moret a correspondent for Inside Edition told The Hollywood Reporter he had entered the hospital for an aortic valve replacement but was deemed too weak to have the surgery he went home but had to return I always thought he would pull through morett said because he was so cool he was always cool.
Early Career and Breakthrough Roles:-
Early in his career the darkhaired Darren received excellent notices for starring and let no man write my Epitaph 1960 portraying the son of a hlam defended by Humphrey Bogart’s character in 1949’s knock on any door and for playing the Greek Soldier speos Patos in The Guns of naon 1961 even though he could not surf the Philadelphia native got the role of Mundi real name Jerry Matthews opposite three actresses as the precocious malibou tetine Sandra de and gigit 1959 Deborah Wally and git goes Hawaiian 1961 and Cindy Carol and G goes to Rome 1963.
TV Accomplishment with “The Time Passage” and “T.J. Prostitute”:-
Darren then spiraled through history as the headstrong Dr Tony Newman an Electronics genius on the 1966-67 ABC Adventure series The Time Tunnel also starring Robert colar Tom Hanks once said it was his favorite show as a kid in an interview with Tom Weaver for the 2008 book I talked with a zombie Darren said he wasn’t interested in doing television or science fiction before he agreed to a meeting with the creat of The Time Tunnel Rowen Allen Allan told him this is something you have to do I know you don’t want to do it but I think you are perfect for this role and he convinced me Darren recalled Owen was one of the great salespersons of our time I accepted the role because of my meeting with him 15 years later Darren joined the William Shatner ABC Action drama TJ hooker in its second season portraying Officer Jim Corgan opposite Heather loin as his inexperienced partner Stacy Sheridan Darren directed for the first time in 1986 as an emergency fill in during the final season of TJ hooker and he went to helm episodes of Hunter Silk Stockings melo’s Place werewolf The A Team and Beverly Hills 90210 dot he also played the wealthy Tony Marlin on Fox’s Melrose Place on which he reunited with laer.
Pop Music Career and Revival with “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”:-
Darren’s biggest splash as a singer came with the Gloria Shane written Goodbye cruel world which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961 Darren performed a version of the tune about a man whose heart is broken by a mean fickle woman on an episode of The Donna Reed Show that year he cracked the top 10 again in 1962 with her royal Majesty written by Carol King and Jerry goffen and in the early’ 70s he sang and played the straight man in a lounge act with comic Buddy hackit Darren revived his singing career in the late ’90s when he appeared on several episodes of the syndicated series Star Trek Deep Space 9 as the holographic Lounge singer Vic Fontaine a role he called one of the most enjoyable he ever played several of his Frank Sinatra styled performances were recorded for the 1999 album this one’s from the heart.
Final Film Appearance and Personal Life:-
After many years out of the Limelight Darren made an impression as the husband of a bar owner in Harry Dean ‘s final film lucky 2017 James William mercolini was born on June 8th 1936 growing up on South 10th Street in South Philadelphia he was inspired by another Philly native Eddie fiser to become a singer and actor and he commuted to New York to study acting with Stella Adler while in the city the owner of a photography shop connected him to Columbia Pictures talent scout Joyce selnik David O sik’s niece and he went on to sign a contract with the studio.
Notable Film Roles and Gidget Fame:-
Darren made his film debut as a high school senior and gang member opposite Robert Blake in the crime drama rumble on the docks 1956 Then followed with roles in operation mad ball the brothers Rico and the Tiana story in 1957 and Gunman’s Walk in 58 the gig movies made him extremely popular with young ladies the defining moment was when I was at a studio in San Francisco and word got out I was there he recalled in a 2015 interview with Los Angeles magazine thousands of girls were screaming out front when I had to leave the building they tackled me to the ground and pulled pieces of my hair out the police had to rescue me and took me to the roof until things settled down.
Music and Television Performances:-
To land the gig gig Darren had to convince the producers that he could carry a tune they were going to use somebody else’s voice but I told them I could sing he said we went into one of the sound stages with a piano player and I sang the song and they said he can do it then they put me on their label cpic Darren also was heard performing in all the young men 1960 Diamond Head 1962 under the Yum Yum Tree 1963 and for those who think y 1964 he sang almost in your arms at the 1959 Academy Awards and it’s a mad mad mad mad world on the 1964 Oscar telecast performed as Yogi Bear in a 1964 animated film and did a number on a 1965 episode of The Flintstones he also played the best friend opposite Sal Mino in the gene Kupa story 1959 starred as a car mechanic in the Lively set 1964 and ventured to Italy to Topline Venus and Furs 1969 with Barbara McNair.
Personal Life and Legacy:-
Darren was married to childhood’s sweetheart Gloria tolitz from 1955 until their 1958 divorce and to Eddie Norland a former Miss Denmark from 1960 until his death he lived for decades in a home on kimridge Road in Beverly Ridge Estates that had been owned by Audrey heern in addition to his wife and Moret survivors include his other Sons Christian and Anthony grandchildren Amanda Carly Matthew Natalie and Nicholas and goddaughter J Lambert daughter of Nancy Sinatra.
Unexpected Encounters with Fans:-
Over the years Darren encountered many fans of his music some of them unexpected I was in a pizza shop one day with a friend of mine I heard this motorcycle pull up and in walked Bruce Springsteen in his little motorcycle cap like Brando wore in the wild one I guess he left his helmet outside he recalled in his chat with Weaver I said oh I got to go say hi to him I walked up to him and said hi I don’t want to interrupt you but my name is James Darren I just want to tell you I’m a big fan I love all your stuff and he said James Darren I bought Goodbye cruel world in Freehold New Jersey isn’t that sweet.