Actor James Darren, famous for his roles in Gidget, T.J. Hooker, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has passed away at the age of 88. According to TMZ, he died peacefully in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Monday.
While the exact cause of death is not known, his son, Jim Moret, mentioned that Darren had heart problems and was receiving treatment for an aortic valve replacement but was too weak to go through with the surgery.
Darren became well-known as the teen heartthrob Moondoggie in Gidget and appeared in its follow-up films. He also had a significant role in T.J. Hooker and had a successful career as a singer and director, working on shows like Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210. Rest in peace, James Darren.