By Cynthia Charlene Greason
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
James William Ercolani (June 8, 1936 – September 2, 2024), known by his stage name James 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 Gidget (1959) and its sequels, The Gene Krupa Story (1959), All the Young Men (1960), The Guns of Navarone (1961), and Diamond Head (1962). As a teen pop singer, he achieved hit singles including “Goodbye Cruel World” in 1961. He later became more active in television, starring as Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction series The Time Tunnel (1966–1967). He appeared in the regular role of Officer James Corrigan in the police drama T. J. Hooker (1983–1986) and in the recurring role of Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999).
On September 2, 2024, Darren died from heart failure in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 88. In the weeks before his death, Darren was experiencing issues relating to the function of his aortic valve. His doctors judged his condition too fragile to undergo surgery and repair it.
TV guest star
In the 1970s, Darren performed regularly in night clubs. He focused on guest starring on TV series, such as Love, American Style; S.W.A.T.; Police Woman; Black Sheep Squadron; The Feather and Father Gang; Charlie’s Angels; Police Story; Hawaii Five-O; Vegas; The Love Boat; and Fantasy Island.
He had a role in the TV movie The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) and the film The Boss’ Son (1978).
In the early 1980s Darren appeared on Scruples (1981), and One Day at a Time.
ON T.J. HOOKER AND BEING A DIRECTOR
Later Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police drama T. J. Hooker from 1983 to 1986.
“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.”
He directed some episodes and launched a career as a director, notably of action-based series, including Hunter, The A-Team, Silk Stalkings, Renegade, and Nowhere Man, as well as dramas such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place.
He continued to act on such shows as Raven.
