JAMES DARREN, R.I.P.
I feel that a piece of all of our childhoods/teenage-hoods died earlier this week when film and television star James Darren passed away.
James Darren and Deborah Walley as Moondoggie and Gidget in Gidget Goes Hawaiian.
My perennial favorite movie, throughout my entire life, is Gidget Goes Hawaiian. I’ve watched it many a time, and can even recite many of the lines from it. (I’ve never seen any of the other Gidgets—just this one.)
So some years ago, when Mr. X was being directed in a television movie by Gidget’s gorgeous boyfriend, “Moondoggie”—James Darren, of course—I knew I had to visit the set in hopes of being introduced to him. (Mr. X did invite me there, but he hates to intrude on anyone, especially in a professional situation, so there was no guarantee of the private meet-and-greet with Mr. Darren.)
At that point in time, Gidget was years behind him, (but never me,) so I was a bit apprehensive about mentioning my love of that film to someone who had gone so far beyond it. But happily for me, Mr. X had apprised his director about my obsession before I arrived, and James was totally fine with it. He actually even seemed amused by it.
After all those years of rooting for him as Moondoggie, I was so happy to see that James Darren was lovely to me. He even invited me to hang around and watch them filming.
James Darren recently.
The only thing I regret about that day is not asking for a picture together. But this happened many years before selfies. And more importantly, he and Mr. X were working—I was just interloping. I have a feeling he would have very pleasantly accommodated me, but even with a cell phone camera, I would never have imposed on James. (Or on anyone!)
But I have never forgotten that meeting. He was many years on from being Moondoggie, but James Darren was still one beautiful man.
I hope that seeing so many tributes to him now has been warming the hearts of his loved ones. I’m so happy that James leaves a plethora of filmed works so that future generations can have the fun of watching him that many of us have had for decades. You know that I will be re-watching Gidget Goes Hawaiian for the umpteenth time this week, and seeing him in all his handsome glory!
R.I.P., James Darren
2 Comments
Lovely remembrance, Karen. Sounds like James Darren was a nice guy. Glad to hear that. I always thought he was handsome. Now I’ll have to watch GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN. Never saw it before.
FYI, James’ son is James Moret, the chief correspondent for “Inside Edition.” He looks like his dad.
I actually know Jim Moret because we had a mutual friend, and he told me he watched my show when I met him at their house. But I never knew he was James Darren’s son. When I read his statement when his dad died, I felt that something was up with their relationship. And then I found-out that James let Jim’s stepdad adopt him! That’s why they have different last names!