James darren family biography letters
James Darren
American actor (–)
James Darren | |
|---|---|
Darren in The Time Tunnel () | |
| Born | James William Ercolani ()June 8, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 2, () (aged&#;88) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Years&#;active | – |
| Known&#;for | Actor, singer, director |
| Notable work | |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3, including Jim Moret |
James William Ercolani (June 8, – September 2, ), known by his stage name James Darren, was an American television and film actor, television director, and singer.
During the late s and early s, he had notable starring and supporting roles in films including the youth and beach-culture film Gidget () and its sequels. He also appeared in The Gene Krupa Story (), All the Young Men (), The Guns of Navarone (), and Diamond Head (). As a teen pop singer, he sang hit singles including "Goodbye Cruel World" in He later became more active in television, starring as Dr.
Anthony Newman in the science fiction series The Time Tunnel (–). He had the regular role of Officer James Corrigan in the police dramaT. J. Hooker (–) and performed as Vic Fontaine, a recurring role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (–).[1]
Early life
James William Ercolani was born in Philadelphia, on June 8, [2][3] He was of Italian descent[4] and grew up in South Philadelphia near where Fabian and Frankie Avalon lived.[5][6] In an interview with the News Press of Fort Myers, Florida he said that the area where he lived was "a real neighborhood.
It made you feel that you could be successful, too." He mentioned that Al Martino and Eddie Fisher were from the neighborhood.[6]
Darren wanted to be an actor and studied in New York City with Stella Adler for a number of years. He also occasionally sang although he later said "I wasn't really a singer. I was a kid in Philly whose dad would take him to bars and nightclubs and I would get up and sing two songs."[7][8]
Career
Darren was discovered by talent agent and casting director Joyce Selznick after he got some photographs taken by Maurice Seymour to show potential agents:
His secretary, a woman by the name of Yvonne Bouvier, asked me if I was interested in getting into film.
I said yeah, I was.
James darren family biography letters Retrieved September 2, Darren appeared on T. Darren was back to acting in lighter fare when he co-starred with actress Pamela Tiffin in both The Lively Set , the first of a 7-picture movie deal with Universal, and For Those Who Think Young After returning home, Jim had to return back after hearing that unfortunate news.She said I know someone you should meet. She set up a meeting between me and Joyce Selznick, who worked for Screen Gems. I went down to Broadway, the Brill Building. On my way to a meeting with Joyce, we just happened to get on the elevator at the same time. She kept staring at me. I never met her. She never met me. We got off at the same floor and walked to the same office.
That was our meeting. Joyce brought me over to Columbia Pictures about a week later and got me a contract there.[9]
Columbia
Columbia signed Darren to a long-term contract in July&#; A few weeks later he was filming his first film, Rumble on the Docks (), a low-budget "B" movie produced by Sam Katzman, where Darren played the lead.[10][11] Darren's appearance was well received and he got a lot of fan mail–second at the studio only to Kim Novak.[11] He guest starred on an episode of TV's The Web ("Kill and Run") and then Columbia gave him a support role in an "A" picture,[citation needed] the comedy Operation Mad Ball (), starring Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs.[2]
He had support roles in two films directed by Phil Karlson: The Brothers Rico (), a film noir, playing the brother of Richard Conte; and Gunman's Walk (), a Western with Van Heflin and Tab Hunter.
Jim moret Venus in Furs. The crazed story of The Quireboys, the band who had it all then partied it all away. The duo, known for their engaging content and charismatic dynamic, revealed the reasons behind their departure, including a new contract offer and creative independence. Soon after his separation from Gloria in , James Darren had met model-Evy Norlund at a studio acting class.In between he was second billed in another movie for Katzman, The Tijuana Story (), although his role was relatively small.[2][additional citation(s) needed]
Gidget and singing
Darren was third billed in the surf film, Gidget (), starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson, playing Moondoggie, essentially the film's leading man.
He also sang the title track. "They were thinking about having someone do the vocal and I would lip sync", he recalled. "I told them I could do it. So we went into one of the sound stages and I sang 'Gidget'. They said, 'He sings fine,' then I did all the other songs."[2][7]
The film was a hit with teen audiences and so was the song.
Darren wound up recording a string of pop hits for Colpix Records, the biggest of which was "Goodbye Cruel World" (No. 3 on the Billboard Hot in ). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[12] He also recorded this song in Italian, as "Addio Mondo Crudele", which was very successful in Europe. His follow-ups also became hits: "Her Royal Majesty" (No.
6 on the Billboard Hot in ) and "Conscience" (No. 11, ). He is also featured in one of the Scopitone series of pop-music video jukebox films ("Because You're Mine").
Twice, in and , Darren played teen idols on episodes of The Donna Reed Show.[13][14] He did an episode of The Lineup ().
He was third billed in a series of films for Columbia: The Gene Krupa Story (), a biopic with Sal Mineo; All the Young Men (), a Korean War movie with Alan Ladd and Sidney Poitier; and Let No Man Write My Epitaph () with Burl Ives and Shelley Winters, which was a sequel to Knock on Any Door ().
He had a cameo as himself in a teen film, Because They're Young (), singing the title track.
Darren had a supporting role in the World War II film The Guns of Navarone (), a huge hit at the box office. However, he later said "The people handling my career at that point didn't really take advantage of it."[15] Also popular was Gidget Goes Hawaiian () where Darren reprised his role as Moondoggie; he had a new Gidget (Deborah Walley) and was given top billing.[2]
Darren had a good support role in a melodrama, Diamond Head () with Charlton Heston.[2] He played Moondoggie a third time in Gidget Goes to Rome () which he later said he "hated I didn't want to do it.
I thought that I'd be doing those for the rest of my life."[2][15] He told Entertainment Weekly in , "They (Columbia Pictures) had me under contract; I was a prisoner. But with those young ladies (Sandra Dee, Deborah Walley, and Cindy Carol), it was the best prison I think I'll ever be in."[6]
He sang the title track for Under the Yum Yum Tree ().
He also did voice-over work for Screen Gems' Hanna-Barbera animation unit. He was caricatured as teen idol "Jimmy Darrock" on an episode of The Flintstones, and was the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the theatrical feature, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (released ), on the song "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a".[2][additional citation(s) needed] Darren's seven-year contract with Columbia expired in , and he did not renew it.
His recording agreement with Colpix remained in force, and Colpix issued new records into In the same year he changed labels, signing with Warner Bros. Records where he had a Top hit ("All", No. 35, ).
Universal
In Darren signed a seven-picture deal with Universal, starting with The Lively Set ().[16] That teamed him with Pamela Tiffin, who was also in For Those Who Think Young (), a teen film Darren made for United Artists.
Nancy Sinatra, a performer and the daughter of Frank Sinatra appeared in the movie as well. Darren was the godfather of Nancy's daughter, AJ Lambert.[6]
Irwin Allen
Darren guest-starred on an episode of Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Allen then cast Darren in the lead of a series, as impulsive scientist and adventurer Tony Newman on the science fiction series The Time Tunnel (–) with Robert Colbert[2] and Lee Meriwether.
When the series ended, Allen shot a pilot for a new series starring Darren, The Man from the 25th Century, but it was not picked up.[17]
Darren went to Europe to make Venus in Furs ()[2] for Jess Franco and was reunited with Allen in City Beneath the Sea ().[citation needed]
TV guest star
In the s, 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 & 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 () and the film The Boss' Son ().
In the early s Darren appeared on Scruples () and One Day at a Time.
Portrait of a Legend
In the late s and early s, Darren was the host of Portrait of a Legend, a weekly show in which he conducted an interview with a popular musician about their career interspersed with classic performance footage of that artist.
Artists who appeared included Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Sly Stone, and Herb Alpert. The show appeared mostly on PBS.[18]
TJ Hooker and directing
From to Darren had a regular role as Officer James Corrigan on the television police drama T. J. Hooker.[5] "Every career has its hills and valleys", Darren said in "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."[19]
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, and Melrose Place.[20][2] He continued to act on such shows as Raven.
Deep Space Nine
In , Darren achieved popularity anew as a singer through his appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role of holographiccrooner and adviser Vic Fontaine.[2] His role in Deep Space Nine inspired his return to singing.[21] Many of his vocal performances on the show were re-recorded for the album This One's from the Heart ().[22] The album shows Darren, a close friend of Frank Sinatra,[23] singing in the Sinatra style.[2] The follow-up Because of You showed similar inspiration from Tony Bennett.
Darren's later appearances include Random Acts ()[24] and Lucky ().[5]
Personal life and death
In , Darren married Gloria Terlitsky, his sweetheart since Her father opposed their marriage because Terlitsky was Jewish while Darren was Roman Catholic.
Darren and Terlitsky had a son, James Jr. ("Jimmy"), and divorced in Jimmy was adopted by Gloria's third husband and is now known as Jim Moret, a journalist and television commentator.[25][2]
Two years after the divorce, Darren married Evy Norlund, Miss Denmark They had two sons, Christian (born c.
) and Anthony (born c. ).[26][27]
Darren died from congestive heart failure in his sleep, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, on September 2, He was [2][28] 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.[29]
Selected discography
Singles
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard | US AC | Canada CHUM/RPM | UK[30] | |||
| "Mighty Pretty Territory" b/w "There's No Such Thing" | — | — | — | — | Album No.
1 | |
| "Gidget" b/w "You" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 41 | — | 33 | — | ||
| "Angel Face" b/w "I Don't Wanna Lose Ya" | 47 | — | 30 | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| "I Ain't Sharin Sharon" b/w "Love Among the Young" (from Album No. 1) | — | — | — | — | non-album track | |
| "Teenage Tears" b/w "Let There Be Love" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| "You Are My Dream" b/w "Your Smile" | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies | |
| "Because They're Young" b/w "Tears in My Eyes" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | 29 | ||
| "Traveling Down a Lonely Road" b/w "P.S. I Love You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "All the Young Men" b/w "How Sweet You Are" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | — | non-album track | |
| "Come On My Love" b/w "Man About Town" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies | |
| "Goodbye My Lady Love" b/w "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gotta Have Love" b/w "Fool's Paradise" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | James Darren Sings for All Sizes | |
| "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" b/w "Wild About That Girl" | — | — | — | — | Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren Sings the Movies | |
| "You Are My Dream" b/w "Hand In Hand" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Goodbye Cruel World" b/w "Valerie" | 3 | — | 1 | 28 | James Darren Sings For All Sizes | |
| "Her Royal Majesty" b/w "If I Could Only Tell You" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 6 | — | 8 | 36 | Teenage Triangle | |
| "Conscience" b/w "Dream Big" (from James Darren Sings for All Sizes) | 11 | — | 10 | 30 | ||
| "Mary's Little Lamb" b/w "The Life of the Party" | 39 | — | 23 | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Hail to the Conquering Hero" b/w "Too Young to Go Steady" (from Love Among the Young) | 97 | — | — | — | ||
| "Hear What I Wanna Hear" b/w "I'll Be Loving You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Pin a Medal On Joey" b/w "Diamond Head" | 54 | — | 29 | — | ||
| "They Should Have Given You the Oscar" b/w "Blame It On My Youth" (from Love Among the Young) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gegetta" b/w "Grande Luna Italiana" | — | — | — | — | More Teenage Triangle | |
| "Back Stage" b/w "Under the Yum Yum Tree" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Punch and Judy" b/w "Just Think of Tonight" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Baby, Talk to Me" b/w "A Married Man" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | — | More Teenage Triangle | |
| "Because You're Mine" b/w "Millions of Roses" | — | 30 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Tom Hawk" b/w "I Want to Be Lonely" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Where Did We Go Wrong" b/w "Counting the Cracks" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Crazy Me" b/w "They Don't Know" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Tomorrow Tomorrow" b/w "Love Is Where You Find It" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "All" b/w "Misty Morning Eyes" (Non-album track) | 35 | 5 | 37 | — | All | |
| "Since I Don't Have You" b/w "I Miss You So" | — | — | — | |||
| "Didn't We" b/w "Counting the Cracks" | — | 36 | — | — | non-album tracks | |
| "They Don't Know" b/w "The House Song" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Cherie" b/w "Wait Until Dark" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Each and Every Part of Me" b/w "A Little Bit of Heaven" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Wheeling, West Virginia" b/w "That's My World" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Bring Me Down Slow" b/w "More and More" | — | — | — | — | Mammy Blue | |
| "Mammy Blue" b/w "As Long As You Love Me" | — | — | — | |||
| "Ain't Been Home In a Long Time" b/w "I Think Somebody Loves Me" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Brian's Song" b/w "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" | — | — | — | — | Love Songs from the Movies | |
| "Let the Heartaches Begin" b/w "Sad Song" | — | — | — | — | non-album tracks | |
| "Stay" b/w "Sad Eyed Romany Woman" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love On the Screen" b/w "Losing You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Sleepin' in a Bed of Lies" b/w "One Has My Name, the Other Has My Heart" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "You Take My Heart Away" b/w Disco version of A-side | 52 | — | — | — | ||
| "Only a Dream Away" b/w "Losing You" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Let Me Take You in My Arms Again" b/w "California" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Next Time" b/w "Something Like Nothing Before" | — | — | — | — | ||
Albums
Source:[31]
Many compilation albums also exist.
Filmography
Film
Television
References
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