James Darren, Singer and Actor

 

Tall, 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, which is probably why he was the only actor who appeared in all three Gidget movies, Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). 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.”

While Sandra Dee managed to be an appealing little hard-head as she became smitten with James Darren, it was the title song for the first Gidget that resulted in his recording contract and a whole separate career in the music biz. But with success comes the ultimate price: fandom. “At times it was Chinese torture,” Darren recalled. “In San Francisco a crowd of girls age 13 to 16 tore down the TV studio doors, pulled me out and pinned me to the ground, tearing my jacket, ripping my clothes off and pulling souvenir hairs from my head.” In a New England town, the police chief saved him from rapacious fans by pushing him into a waiting squad car in the manner of The Beatles. Once in Hollywood he found his car fenders, doors and trunk painted with the names and phone numbers of four girl fans. Another time a fan inked her phone number on the bottom of his new trench coat. “It’s a nice thing to look back on,” said Darren, “but it wasn’t much fun at the time.”

In Gidget, Darren sang two songs: the title tune and “There’s No Such Thing As the Next Best Thing To Love.” Almost without intending to, he became a recording star overnight. In the early sixties his hits included “Goodbye Cruel World,” which became number one in the US, as well as “Angel Face,” “Conscience,” and “Her Royal Majesty” — every one of which made the Top Ten List.

It was in 1965 that James Darren was approach to co-star in a television series, The Time Tunnel, which has since become a pop culture classic. “Irwin called my agent about my doing the role of Tony Newman, and my agent told me what it was, a science-fiction series called The Time Tunnel,” reccalled Darren. “I had not read the script or anything, but I told him I wasn’t interest in doing television…Well, I went into the meeting, and by the time I left, he had talked me into doing Time Tunnel. He said, ‘This is something you have to do. I know you don’t want to do this, but I think you’re perfect for this role and I want you to do it,’ and he convinced me. Irwin was one of the great salespersons of our time. I accepted the role because of my meeting with him.” Balticon 46

When the television series ended, Darren decided to concentrate on his singing. He teamed with comedian Buddy Hackett for what would become a twelve-year partnership touring the country. In 1983, Darren was offered the role of Officer Jim Corrigan on the ABC-TV series, T.J. Hooker. He directed the final episode of T.J. Hooker, which led to multiple directing jobs including Hunter, Nowhere Man, The A-Team, Hardball, and Police Story. Otakon July 2012

Darren has been rediscovered by a whole new generation of fans due to his frequent appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Vic Fontaine, a holographic swinging sixties’ Vegas lounge singer, in the vein of Frank Sinatra.

Interesting Trivia: Darren’s role in the 1961 WWII film, The Guns of Navarone, was an attempt to break out of his teen image. He was the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the 1964 animated film, Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear!, for the song “Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a.” Prior to that, he was the singing and speaking voice of “Jimmy Darrock” on an episode of The Flintstones. Farpoint, Shoreleave, Maryland

James Darren was among the celebrity guests at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. Darren signed autographs and posed for photographs. There was also a slide show presentation about The Time Tunnel and the new Time Tunnel book premiered on the same weekend, giving fans ample reason to attend.

Intervention 2012, Annapolis Comic-Con 2012

A Selection of James Darren’s Television Credits

The 31st Annual Academy Awards, guest singer (April 6, 1959)

The Donna Reed Show, “One Starry Night”  (September 14, 1961)

The Donna Reed Show, “April Fool”  (April 1, 1959)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, “The Mechanical Man”  (March 13, 1966)

Shivaree, guest host of the broadcast of July 31, 1965

The Pat Boone Show, guest star on the broadcast of May 2, 1967

Fantasy Island, “The Victim/The Mermaid”  (December 1, 1979)

Diagnosis Murder, “Murder Blues”  (September 18, 1997)

S.W.A.T., “The Running Man” (Parts One and Two, January 24 and 31, 1976)

Police Woman, “Task Force: Cop Killer” (Parts One and Two, March 2 and 9, 1976)

Charlie’s Angeles, “Circus of Terror”  (October 19, 1977)

Hawaii Five-O, “Number One With a Bullet”  (Part One, December 28, 1978)

Hawaii Five-O, “Number One With a Bullet”  (Part Two, January 4, 1979)

The Dick Clark Show, guest star on the broadcast of March 28, 1959

Baltimore Comic-Con 2012, Balticon 46 2012

A Selection of James Darren’s Movie Credits

Rumble on the Docks (1956, with Robert Blake)

The Brothers Rico (1957, with Richard Conte)

Gidget (1959, with Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson)

Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961, with Deborah Walley)

Gidget Goes to Rome (1963, with Cindy Carol)

The Gene Krupa Story (1959, with Sal Mineo)

The Guns of Navarone (1961, with Gregory Peck and David Niven)

Southern Maryland Comic-Con 2012

A Selection of James Darren’s Hit Singles

“Gidget”  (1959)

“Angel Face”  (1959)

“Because They’re Young”  (1960)

“Goodbye, Cruel World”  (1961)

“Her Royal Majesty”  (1962)

“Conscience”  (1962)

“Mary’s Little Lamb”  (1962)

“Hail the Conquering Hero”  (1962)

“Pin a Medal on Joey”  (1963)

“Because You’re Mine”  (1965)

“All”  (1967)

“Didn’t We”  (1967)

“You Take My Heart Away” (US #52)  (1977)

Baltimore Comic Book and Non-Sports Card Show

Tags: movie stars, Singers