6.7
Avg Rating
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
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 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."
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 TV's 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 Gunman's 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 You're 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 They're 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, It's 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 character's 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.
Gender
Male
Birthday
June 8, 1936
Died
September 2, 2024
Birthplace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Also Known As
The Lively Set
1964
Lucky
2017
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!
1964
The Brothers Rico
1957
Gidget Goes Hawaiian
1961
Gidget
1959
The Guns of Navarone
1961
Operation Mad Ball
1957
Gunman's Walk
1958
Aliens From Another Planet
1982
Because They're Young
1960
Venus in Furs
1969
Diamond Head
1962
Scruples
1981
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport
1986
Turnover Smith
1980
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
2018
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
1960
Gidget Goes to Rome
1963
For Those Who Think Young
1964
+ 9 more movies
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
The Love Boat
1977
Charlie's Angels
1976
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
Melrose Place
1992
Hawaii Five-O
1968
Renegade
1992
The Flintstones
1960
Love, American Style
1969
T. J. Hooker
1982
T. J. Hooker
1982
The Bob Hope Show
1950
The Oscars
1953
Police Woman
1974
The Donna Reed Show
1958
The Donna Reed Show
1958
+ 14 more TV shows