From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. He wanted to be an actor and studied in New York City with Stella Adler for a number of years. He would also occasionally sing although he later said I wasnt 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.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. She said I know someone you should meet. She set up a meeting between me and Joyce Selznick, who worked for Screen Gems. Joyce brought me over to Columbia Pictures about a week later and got me a contract there. Columbia signed Darren to a long term contract in July 1956. A few weeks later, he was filming his first film, Rumble on the Docks. His appearance was well received and he got a lot of fan mail - second at the studio only to Kim Novak. Darren guest starred on an episode of TVs The Web (Kill and Run) then Columbia gave him a support role in an A picture, the comedy Operation Mad Ball, starring Jack Lemmon.He had support roles in two films directed by Phil Karlson The Brothers Rico and Gunmans Walk. In between he was in The Tijuana Story, although his role was relatively small. Darren was third billed in the surf film, Gidget. He also sang the title track. 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. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Another sizeable hit was Her Royal Majesty. He is also featured in one of the Scopitone series of pop music video jukebox films (Because Youre Mine).Darren was third billed in a series of films for Columbia The Gene Krupa Story, All the Young Men, and Let No Man Write My Epitaph. He had a cameo as himself in a teen film, Because Theyre Young, singing the title track. Darren had a supporting role in the World War II film The Guns of Navarone. Also popular was Gidget Goes Hawaiian, where Darren reprised his role as Moondoggie; he was given top billing.Darren also acted in Diamond Head as well as a third time in Gidget Goes to Rome, which he sang the title track for, Under the Yum Yum Tree. In 1963, Darren signed a seven picture deal with Universal, starting with The Lively Set. He was the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the animated film, Hey There, Its Yogi Bear!, on the song Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a. He was the singing voice of his own character Jimmy Darrock on an episode of The Flintstones. However the characters dialogue was provided by voice actor Lennie Weinrib. He subsequently 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.Description above from the Wikipedia article James Darren, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Jimmy Logan
Film 1969
Johnny Rico
Film 1957
Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
Film 1963
Davy Hackett
Film 1958
Pvt. Widowskas
Film 1957
Jeffrey "Moondoggy" Matthews
Film 1961
Jimmy Smigelski
Film 1956
Gardner "Ding" Pruitt III
Film 1964
Nick Romano
Film 1960
Pvt. Cotton
Film 1960
Casey Owens
Film 1964
Mitch
Film 1957
Self
Film 1960
Vito Orsini
Film 1981
Buddy Weistein
Film 1978
Self
Film 2018
Tony Newman
Film 1982
Georgie Green
Film 1980
Self
Film 2018
Officer Jim Corrigan
Film 1986
Johnny Munroe
Tv 1968
Jimmy Darrock (voice)
Tv 1960
David Barzak
Tv 1976
Tv 1992
Tv 1976
Tv 1978
Rick Matteo
Tv 1974
Tv 1973
Tv 1975
Councilman Matthew Watson
Tv 1993
Self
Tv 1967
Self - Singer
Tv 1956
Self
Tv 1969
Self
Tv 1953
Self
Tv 1958
Self
Tv 2022
Self
Tv 1950
Self
Tv 1962
Self - Co-Host
Tv 1961
Vic Fontaine
Tv 1993
Tony Streeter
Tv 1977
Self
Tv 1961
Lt. Col. Rod Towers
Tv 1976
Self
Tv 1974
Roger Barnes
Tv 1969
Omir
Tv 1964
Buzz Berry
Tv 1958
Kip Dennis / Jim Bryce
Tv 1958
Self
Tv 1957
Lou Delgado
Tv 1992