James Darren

James Darren (born James William Ercolani June 8, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television and film actor, television director, and singer.

Biography

Darren began his career as a teen idol. This encompassed roles in films, most notably his role as Moondoggie in Gidget in 1959, as well as a string of pop hits for Colpix Records, the biggest of which was "Goodbye Cruel World" (#3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961).

Related Topics:
Teen idol - Gidget - 1959 - Pop - Colpix Records - Billboard Hot 100 - 1961

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Darren's role in the gritty 1961 World War II film The Guns of Navarone was an attempt to break out of his teen image. He then achieved success co-starring as impulsive scientist and adventurer Tony Newman in the science fiction television series, The Time Tunnel (1966-67).

Related Topics:
1961 - World War II - The Guns of Navarone - The Time Tunnel

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Later, Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police drama T.J. Hooker from 1983-1986. Subsequently he worked as a director on many action-based television series, including Hunter, The A-Team, and Nowhere Man, as well as dramas such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.

Related Topics:
T.J. Hooker - Hunter - The A-Team - Nowhere Man - Beverly Hills 90210 - Melrose Place

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In 1998 he achieved renewed popularity as a singer through his appearances on ' in the role of holographic crooner and advice-giver Vic Fontaine; many of his performances on the show were recorded for the album This One's From the Heart (1999). A close friend of the late Frank Sinatra, the album showed Darren comfortably singing in the Sinatra style; the 2001 follow-up Because of You showed similar inspiration from Tony Bennett.

Related Topics:
1998 - Holographic - Crooner - Vic Fontaine - 1999 - Frank Sinatra - 2001 - Tony Bennett

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Some animation fans may know him as the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the 1964 animated film, Hey There, it's Yogi Bear, on 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.

Related Topics:
Yogi Bear - 1964 - Hey There, it's Yogi Bear - The Flintstones

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