James Darren, the teen idol who famously played dreamy surfer Moondoggie in the “Gidget” films of the 1950s and 1960s and segued into roles behind the camera, has died. He was 88. Darren died ...

James Darren, who went from teen idol status acting ... He reprised his role as Moondoggie in “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and again in “Gidget Goes to Rome,” though he was tired of the ...

James Darren, best known for a wide range of television ... Darren acted in the role of Moondoggie and sang the title track ...

NPR's Elizabeth Blair has an appreciation. ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: As the surfer Moondoggie, James Darren rescues a struggling Sandra Dee on his surfboard. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GIDGET") JAMES ...

Darren died on Monday in his sleep at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 88 years old. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has this appreciation. ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: As the surfer Moondoggie, James Darren ...

James Darren, an actor, director, and singer best known for his role as Moondoggie in the 1959 movie Gidget, died Monday at age 88. “I always thought he would pull through because he was so cool.

James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the ... But to young movie fans of the late 1950s, he would be remembered best as Moondoggie, the dark-haired surfer boy in the smash 1959 release ...

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- James Darren, the former teen idol and pop singer known for his role as Moondoggie in the "Gidget" films from the late '50s and early '60s, died Monday. He was 88.

Actor and singer James Darren, who became famous after starring ... but he rose to prominence when he starred as Moondoggie in 1959’s surf movie, Gidget, co-starring Sandra Dee.

Darren was born James Ercolani in 1936 and grew up in South ... But to young movie fans of the late 1950s, he would be remembered best as Moondoggie, the dark-haired surfer boy in the smash ...