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James Darren | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Darren inThe Time Tunnel (1966) | |
| Born | James William Ercolani (1936-06-08)June 8, 1936 |
| Died | September 2, 2024(2024-09-02) (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1956–2017 |
| Known for | Actor, singer, director |
| Notable work |
|
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3, includingJim Moret |
James William Ercolani (June 8, 1936 – September 2, 2024), known by his stage nameJames Darren, was an American television and film actor, television director, and singer. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had notable starring and supporting roles in films including the youth and beach-culture filmGidget (1959) and its sequels. He also appeared inThe Gene Krupa Story (1959),All the Young Men (1960),The Guns of Navarone (1961), andDiamond Head (1962). As ateen pop singer, he sang hit singles including "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961. He later became more active in television, starring as Dr. Anthony Newman in thescience fiction seriesThe Time Tunnel (1966–1967). He had the regular role of Officer James Corrigan in thepolice dramaT. J. Hooker (1982–1986) and performed asVic Fontaine, a recurring role inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999).[1]
James William Ercolani was born inPhiladelphia, on June 8, 1936.[2][3] He was of Italian descent[4] and grew up inSouth Philadelphia near whereFabian andFrankie Avalon lived.[5][6] In an interview with theNews Press ofFort Myers, Florida he said that the area where he lived was "a real neighborhood. It made you feel that you could be successful, too." He mentioned thatAl Martino andEddie Fisher were from the neighborhood.[6]
Darren wanted to be an actor and studied inNew York City withStella Adler for a number of years. He also occasionally sang although he later 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."[7][8]
Darren was discovered by talent agent and casting directorJoyce Selznick after he got some photographs taken by Maurice Seymour to show potential agents:
His secretary, a woman by the name of Yvonne Bouvier, asked me if I was interested in getting into film. I said yeah, I was. She said I know someone you should meet. She set up a meeting between me and Joyce Selznick, who worked forScreen Gems. I went down to 1650 Broadway, theBrill Building. On my way to a meeting with Joyce, we just happened to get on the elevator at the same time. She kept staring at me. I never met her. She never met me. We got off at the same floor and walked to the same office. That was our meeting. Joyce brought me over toColumbia Pictures about a week later and got me a contract there.[9]
Columbia signed Darren to a long-term contract in July 1956. A few weeks later he was filming his first film,Rumble on the Docks (1956), a low-budget "B" movie produced bySam Katzman, where Darren played the lead.[10][11] Darren's appearance was well received and he got a lot of fan mail–second at the studio only toKim Novak.[11] He guest starred on an episode of TV'sThe Web ("Kill and Run") and then Columbia gave him a support role in an "A" picture,[citation needed] the comedyOperation Mad Ball (1957), starringJack Lemmon andErnie Kovacs.[2]
He had support roles in two films directed byPhil Karlson:The Brothers Rico (1957), a film noir, playing the brother ofRichard Conte; andGunman's Walk (1958), a Western withVan Heflin andTab Hunter. In between he was second billed in another movie for Katzman,The Tijuana Story (1957), although his role was relatively small.[2][additional citation(s) needed]
Darren was third billed in the surf film,Gidget (1959), starringSandra Dee andCliff Robertson, playing Moondoggie, essentially the film'sleading man. He also sang the title track. "They were thinking about having someone do the vocal and I would lip sync", he recalled. "I told them I could do it. So we went into one of the sound stages and I sang 'Gidget'. They said, 'He sings fine,' then I did all the other songs."[2][7]
The film was a hit with teen audiences and so was the song. Darren wound up recording a string of pop hits forColpix Records, the biggest of which was "Goodbye Cruel World" (No. 3 on theBillboard Hot 100 in 1961). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold disc.[12] He also recorded this song in Italian, as "Addio Mondo Crudele", which was very successful in Europe. His follow-ups also became hits: "Her Royal Majesty" (No. 6 on theBillboard Hot 100 in 1962) and "Conscience" (No. 11, 1962). He is also featured in one of theScopitone series of pop-music video jukebox films ("Because You're Mine").
Twice, in 1959 and 1961, Darren played teen idols on episodes ofThe Donna Reed Show.[13][14] He did an episode ofThe Lineup (1959). He was third billed in a series of films for Columbia:The Gene Krupa Story (1959), a biopic withSal Mineo;All the Young Men (1960), a Korean War movie withAlan Ladd andSidney Poitier; andLet No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) withBurl Ives andShelley Winters, which was a sequel toKnock on Any Door (1949). He had a cameo as himself in a teen film,Because They're Young (1960), singing the title track.
Darren had a supporting role in the World War II filmThe Guns of Navarone (1961), a huge hit at the box office. However, he later said "The people handling my career at that point didn't really take advantage of it."[15] Also popular wasGidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) where Darren reprised his role as Moondoggie; he had a new Gidget (Deborah Walley) and was given top billing.[2]
Darren had a good support role in a melodrama,Diamond Head (1962) withCharlton Heston.[2] He played Moondoggie a third time inGidget Goes to Rome (1962) which he later said he "hated... I didn't want to do it. I thought that I'd be doing those for the rest of my life."[2][15] He toldEntertainment Weekly in 2024, "They (Columbia Pictures) had me under contract; I was a prisoner. But with those young ladies (Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley, and Cindy Carol), it was the best prison I think I'll ever be in."[6]
He sang the title track forUnder the Yum Yum Tree (1963). He also did voice-over work for Screen Gems'Hanna-Barbera animation unit. He was caricatured as teen idol "Jimmy Darrock" on an episode ofThe Flintstones, and was the singing voice ofYogi Bear in the theatrical feature,Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (released 1964), on the song "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a".[2][additional citation(s) needed] Darren's seven-year contract with Columbia expired in 1963, and he did not renew it. His recording agreement with Colpix remained in force, and Colpix issued new records into 1965. In the same year he changed labels, signing withWarner Bros. Records where he had a Top-40 hit ("All", No. 35, 1967).
In 1963 Darren signed a seven-picture deal with Universal, starting withThe Lively Set (1963).[16] That teamed him withPamela Tiffin, who was also inFor Those Who Think Young (1964), a teen film Darren made forUnited Artists.Nancy Sinatra appeared in the movie as well. Darren was the godfather of Nancy's daughter,AJ Lambert.[6]
Darren guest-starred on an episode ofIrwin Allen'sVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Allen then cast Darren in the lead of a series, as impulsive scientist and adventurer Tony Newman on thescience fiction seriesThe Time Tunnel (1966–1967) withRobert Colbert[2] andLee Meriwether. When the series ended, Allen shot a pilot for a new series starring Darren,The Man from the 25th Century, but it was not picked up.[17]
Darren went to Europe to makeVenus in Furs (1969)[2] forJess Franco and was reunited with Allen inCity Beneath the Sea (1971).[citation needed]
In the 1970s, Darren performed regularly in night clubs. He focused on guest starring on TV series, such asLove, American Style;S.W.A.T.,Police Woman,Black Sheep Squadron,The Feather & Father Gang,Charlie's Angels,Police Story,Hawaii Five-O,Vegas,The Love Boat, andFantasy Island.
He had a role in the TV movieThe Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) and the filmThe Boss' Son (1978). In the early 1980s Darren appeared onScruples (1981) andOne Day at a Time.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Darren was the host ofPortrait of a Legend, a weekly show in which he conducted an interview with a popular musician about their career interspersed with classic performance footage of that artist. Artists who appeared includedJerry Lee Lewis,Little Richard,Sly Stone, andHerb Alpert. The show appeared mostly onPBS.[18]
From 1983 to 1986 Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police dramaT. J. Hooker.[5] "Every career has its hills and valleys", Darren said in 1983. "The most important thing is that you are happy with you. Not anybody's career, no one that I know of, has always been climbing. It always levels out and you want to make sure you have good investments and financial security and bread on the table. If projects aren't coming to you, then you seek them out and you try to develop and put projects together."[19]
He directed some episodes and launched a career as a director, notably of action-based series, includingHunter,The A-Team,Silk Stalkings,Renegade, andNowhere Man as well as dramas such asBeverly Hills, 90210 andMelrose Place.[20][2] He continued to act on such shows asRaven.
In 1998, Darren achieved popularity anew as a singer through his appearances onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role ofholographiccrooner and adviserVic Fontaine.[2] His role inDeep Space Nine inspired his return to singing.[21] Many of his vocal performances on the show were re-recorded for the albumThis One's from the Heart (1999).[22] The album shows Darren, a close friend of Frank Sinatra,[23] singing in the Sinatra style.[2] The 2001 follow-upBecause of You showed similar inspiration fromTony Bennett.
Darren's later appearances includeRandom Acts (2001)[24] andLucky (2017).[5]
In 1955, Darren married Gloria Terlitsky, his sweetheart since 1953. Her father opposed their marriage because Terlitsky wasJewish while Darren wasRoman Catholic. Darren and Terlitsky had a son,James Jr. ("Jimmy"), and divorced in 1958. Jimmy was adopted by Gloria's third husband and is now known asJim Moret, a journalist and television commentator.[25][2]
Two years after the divorce, Darren married Evy Norlund,Miss Denmark 1958. They had two sons, Christian (born c. 1960) and Anthony (born c. 1964).[26][27]
Darren died from congestive heart failure in his sleep, atCedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, on September 2, 2024. He was 88.[2][28] In the weeks before his death, Darren was experiencing issues relating to the function of hisaortic valve. His doctors judged his condition too fragile to undergo surgery and repair it.[29]
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard | US AC | Canada CHUM/RPM | UK[30] | |||
| 1958 | "Mighty Pretty Territory" b/w "There's No Such Thing" | — | — | — | — | Album No. 1 |
| 1959 | "Gidget" b/w "You" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 41 | — | 33 | — | |
| "Angel Face" b/w "I Don't Wanna Lose Ya" | 47 | — | 30 | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| "I Ain't Sharin Sharon" b/w "Love Among the Young" (fromAlbum No. 1) | — | — | — | — | non-album track | |
| "Teenage Tears" b/w "Let There Be Love" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| 1960 | "You Are My Dream" b/w "Your Smile" | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies |
| "Because They're Young" b/w "Tears in My Eyes" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | 29 | ||
| "Traveling Down a Lonely Road" b/w "P.S. I Love You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "All the Young Men" b/w "How Sweet You Are" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | — | non-album track | |
| "Come On My Love" b/w "Man About Town" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies | |
| 1961 | "Goodbye My Lady Love" b/w "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | |
| "Gotta Have Love" b/w "Fool's Paradise" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" b/w "Wild About That Girl" | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies | |
| "You Are My Dream" b/w "Hand In Hand" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Goodbye Cruel World" b/w "Valerie" | 3 | — | 1 | 28 | James Darren Sings For All Sizes | |
| 1962 | "Her Royal Majesty" b/w "If I Could Only Tell You" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 6 | — | 8 | 36 | Teenage Triangle |
| "Conscience" b/w "Dream Big" (fromJames Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 11 | — | 10 | 30 | ||
| "Mary's Little Lamb" b/w "The Life of the Party" | 39 | — | 23 | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Hail to the Conquering Hero" b/w "Too Young to Go Steady" (fromLove Among the Young) | 97 | — | — | — | ||
| "Hear What I Wanna Hear" b/w "I'll Be Loving You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963 | "Pin a Medal On Joey" b/w "Diamond Head" | 54 | — | 29 | — | |
| "They Should Have Given You the Oscar" b/w "Blame It On My Youth" (fromLove Among the Young) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gegetta" b/w "Grande Luna Italiana" | — | — | — | — | More Teenage Triangle | |
| "Back Stage" b/w "Under the Yum Yum Tree" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1964 | "Punch and Judy" b/w "Just Think of Tonight" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1965 | "Baby, Talk to Me" b/w "A Married Man" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | More Teenage Triangle |
| "Because You're Mine" b/w "Millions of Roses" | — | 30 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1966 | "Tom Hawk" b/w "I Want to Be Lonely" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Where Did We Go Wrong" b/w "Counting the Cracks" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Crazy Me" b/w "They Don't Know" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Tomorrow Tomorrow" b/w "Love Is Where You Find It" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967 | "All" b/w "Misty Morning Eyes" (Non-album track) | 35 | 5 | 37 | — | All |
| "Since I Don't Have You" b/w "I Miss You So" | 123 | — | — | — | ||
| "Didn't We" b/w "Counting the Cracks" | — | 36 | — | — | non-album tracks | |
| "They Don't Know" b/w "The House Song" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968 | "Cherie" b/w "Wait Until Dark" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Each and Every Part of Me" b/w "A Little Bit of Heaven" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Wheeling, West Virginia" b/w "That's My World" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1971 | "Bring Me Down Slow" b/w "More and More" | — | — | — | — | Mammy Blue |
| "Mammy Blue" b/w "As Long As You Love Me" | 107 | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "Ain't Been Home In a Long Time" b/w "I Think Somebody Loves Me" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Brian's Song" b/w "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" | — | — | — | — | Love Songs from the Movies | |
| 1973 | "Let the Heartaches Begin" b/w "Sad Song" | — | — | — | — | non-album tracks |
| "Stay" b/w "Sad Eyed Romany Woman" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Love On the Screen" b/w "Losing You" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1976 | "Sleepin' in a Bed of Lies" b/w "One Has My Name, the Other Has My Heart" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1977 | "You Take My Heart Away" b/w Disco version of A-side | 52 | — | — | — | |
| 1978 | "Only a Dream Away" b/w "Losing You" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Let Me Take You in My Arms Again" b/w "California" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Next Time" b/w "Something Like Nothing Before" | — | — | — | — | ||
Source:[31]
Many compilation albums also exist.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Rumble on the Docks | Jimmy Smigelski | |
| 1957 | Operation Mad Ball | Pvt. Widowskas | |
| The Brothers Rico | Johnny Rico | ||
| The Tijuana Story | Mitch | ||
| 1958 | Gunman's Walk | Davy Hackett | |
| 1959 | Gidget | Jeffrey Matthews a.k.a. Moondoggie | |
| The Gene Krupa Story | Eddie Sirota | ||
| 1960 | Because They're Young | himself – singer | |
| All the Young Men | Pvt. Cotton | ||
| Let No Man Write My Epitaph | Nick Romano | ||
| 1961 | The Guns of Navarone | Pvt. Spyro Pappadimos | |
| Gidget Goes Hawaiian | Jeffrey Matthews a.k.a. Moondoggie | ||
| 1962 | Diamond Head | Paul Kahana | |
| 1963 | Gidget Goes to Rome | Jeffrey Matthews a.k.a. Moondoggie | |
| Under the Yum Yum Tree | himself – singer behind title credits | ||
| 1964 | Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! | Yogi Bear ('Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a') (singing voice) | |
| For Those Who Think Young | Gardner 'Ding' Pruitt III | ||
| The Lively Set | Casey Owens | ||
| 1968 | The Man from the 25th Century | Tomo / Robert Prentiss | |
| 1969 | Venus in Furs | Jimmy Logan | |
| 1978 | The Boss' Son | Buddy Weistein | |
| 1979 | That's Life | ||
| 2001 | Random Acts | Allen | |
| 2010 | Accidental Icon: The real Gidget story | himself | |
| 2017 | Lucky | Paulie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Web | Tony Roberts | Episode: "Kill and Run" |
| 1959 | Kovacs on Music | Various | TV movie |
| The Lineup | Vezey | Episode: "Vengeful Knife" | |
| 1959–1961 | The Donna Reed Show | Kip Dennis / Jim Bryce / Buzz Berry | 2 episodes |
| 1965 | The Flintstones | Jimmy Darrock (singing voice) | S5.E26 - “Surfin' Fred” aired Mar 12, 1965 |
| 1966 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Omir | Episode: "The Mechanical Man" |
| 1966–1967 | The Time Tunnel | Dr. Tony Newman | 30 episodes |
| 1971 | City Beneath the Sea | Dr. Talty | TV movie |
| Love, American Style | Roger Barnes (segment "Love and the Monsters") | Episode: "Love and the Anniversary Crisis/Love and the Conjugal Visit/Love and the Dream Burglar/Love and the Hotel Caper/Love and the Monsters" | |
| 1975 | The Lives of Jenny Dolan | Orlando | TV movie |
| 1976 | S.W.A.T. | Joey Wade | Episodes: "The Running Man: Part 1" and "The Running Man: Part 2" |
| Police Woman | Rick Matteo | Episodes: "The Task Force" (2 Parts) | |
| 1977 | Baa Baa Black Sheep | Lt. Col. Rod Towers | Episode: "The War Biz Warrior" |
| The Feather and Father Gang | Praeger | Episode: "For the Love of Sheila" | |
| Charlie's Angels | David Barzak | Episode: "Circus of Terror" | |
| Police Story | Roger Lewis | Episode: "Stigma" | |
| 1978–1979 | Hawaii Five-O | Johnny Munroe | Episode: "Number One with a Bullet Part 1 and 2" |
| 1980 | Vegas | Paul Bracken | Episode: "Consortium" |
| Turnover Smith | Georgie Green | TV movie | |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Tony Steeter | Episode: "Lose One, Win One/The $10,000 Lover/Mind My Wife" |
| Scruples | Vito | TV movie | |
| 1979–1982 | Fantasy Island | Claude Duvalle / Brian Holmes / Michael Duvall | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | One Day at a Time | Roger Alexander | Episode: "The Cruise" |
| 1982–1985 | T. J. Hooker | Dan Danko Officer Jim Corrigan | S2/E2: "King of the Hill" 66 episodes |
| 1992 | Raven | Billy Sharp | Episode: "Is Someone Crazy in Here or Is It Me" |
| Renegade | Lou Delgado | Episode: "Second Chance" | |
| 1994 | Silk Stalkings | Episode: "Natural Selection: Part 1" | |
| 1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Councilman Matthew Watson | Episode: "Murder Blues" |
| 1999 | Melrose Place | Tony Marlin | 5 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Vic Fontaine | 8 episodes |
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