JAMES DARREN

 

VISIT THE JAMES DARREN WEBSITE @

http://www.jamesdarren.com/index.html

 

 

rom Correspondent Jim Moret

(CNN) -- Nearly 40 years after crooning his way into young girls' hearts as "Moondoggie" in the movie "Gidget," James Darren is heading back to his swinging roots -- with a cyber twist.

Darren can currently be seen in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" playing the part of Vic Fontaine , a 3-D computer-generated image who dispenses advice on love and life -- when he's not belting out ballads aboard the space station.

"He's a hologram, he's a performer, a guy who performed in Vegas in the '50s and '60s," Darren says of his character. "He's very street-wise."

Darren first appeared in the role in 1998, but has become a regular on "Deep Space Nine" as it heads into its seventh and final season.

He serves as the romantic catalyst between the characters of Maj. Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and Odo (Rene Auberjonois).

Ira Steven Behr, the show's executive producer, says Darren is perfect for the role.

"We wanted to make sure that he had style, class, yet an openness," Behr says. "We didn't want someone who was slick or anything too brittle. We wanted someone who had a little bit of mensch in him."

Perhaps Darren has earned his "mensch." Leaving his "Gidget" days behind, Darren paid his dues in TV land, playing a supporting role as a cop opposite William Shatner in "T.J. Hooker" from 1983 to 1986. Shatner, of course, gained fame in the first "Star Trek" series as captain of the Starship Enterprise.

Darren then spent 10 years directing such television series as "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills 90210."

Now, he's returning to the role of swinging crooner.

Behr says Darren's role will be intrinsic to the plot as he helps the character of Odo, a shape-shifting security manager on board Deep Space Nine, earn the love of hard-headed coworker Kira, a former resistance fighter against the forces colonizing her home planet.

"We know that Odo is madly in love with the major, but he's a shape-shifter and
cannot quite express his feelings the way he would like, and she's an ex-terrorist and sees him as a friend," Behr says. "We've all been there, haven't we?"

 

 

Actor - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s)

  1. Random Acts (2001) .... Allen

  2. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"
    ... aka DS9 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
    ... aka Deep Space Nine (USA: short title)
    ... aka Star Trek: DS9 (USA: short title)
        - What You Leave Behind: Part 1 (1999) TV Episode .... Vic Fontaine
        - What You Leave Behind: Part 2 (1999) TV Episode .... Vic Fontaine
        - Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang (1999) TV Episode .... Vic Fontaine
        - The Emperor's New Cloak (1999) TV Episode .... Vic Fontaine
        - It's Only a Paper Moon (1998) TV Episode .... Vic Fontaine
          (4 more)
  3. "Melrose Place"
        - Dead Men Don't Shtup (1999) TV Episode .... Tony Marlin
        - Lexi Get Stiffed (1999) TV Episode .... Tony Marlin
        - Floral Knowledge (1999) TV Episode .... Tony Marlin
        - Bitter Homes and Guardians (1999) TV Episode .... Tony Marlin
        - The Daughterboy (1999) TV Episode .... Tony Marlin
  4. "Diagnosis Murder"
        - Murder Blues (1997) TV Episode .... Councilman Watson
  5. "Silk Stalkings"
        - Natural Selection: Part 1 (1994) TV Episode
  6. "Renegade"
        - Second Chance (1992) TV Episode .... Lou Delgado
  7. "Raven"
        - Is Someone Crazy in Here or Is It Me (1992) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Billy Sharp

  8. T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport (1986) (TV) .... Officer James Corrigan
    ... aka Blood Sport (USA)
  9. "T.J. Hooker" .... Officer Jim Corrigan (1983-1986)
        - The Night Ripper (1986) TV Episode .... Officer Jim Corrigan
        - King of the Hill (1982) TV Episode .... Dan Danko
  10. "One Day at a Time"
        - The Cruise (1983) TV Episode .... Piano Player
  11. "Fantasy Island"
        - Sitting Duck/Sweet Suzi Swann (1982) TV Episode .... Claude
        - The Searcher/The Way We Weren't (1981) TV Episode .... Brian Holmes
        - The Victim/The Mermaid (1979) TV Episode .... Michael Duvall
  12. Aliens from Another Planet (1982) (TV) .... Tony Newman
  13. Scruples (1981) (TV) .... Vito
  14. "The Love Boat"
        - Lose One, Win One/For the Record/Mind My Wife (1981) TV Episode .... Tony
  15. Turnover Smith (1980) (TV) .... Georgie Green
  16. "Vega$"
        - Consortium (1980) TV Episode .... Paul Bracken

  17. "Hawaii Five-O"
    ... aka McGarrett (USA: rerun title)
        - Number One with a Bullet: Part 2 (1979) TV Episode .... Johnny Munroe
        - Number One with a Bullet: Part 1 (1978) TV Episode .... Johnny Munroe
  18. The Boss' Son (1978) .... Buddy
  19. "Police Story"
        - Stigma (1977) TV Episode .... Roger Lewis
  20. "Charlie's Angels"
        - Circus of Terror (1977) TV Episode .... David Barzak
  21. "Baa Baa Black Sheep"
    ... aka Black Sheep Squadron (new title)
        - The War Biz Warrior (1977) TV Episode .... Lt. Col. Rod Towers, Movie Star
  22. "Police Woman"
        - Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 2 (1976) TV Episode .... Rick Matteo
        - Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 1 (1976) TV Episode .... Rick Matteo
  23. "S.W.A.T."
        - The Running Man: Part 2 (1976) TV Episode
        - The Running Man: Part 1 (1976) TV Episode
  24. The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) (TV) .... Orlando
  25. "Love, American Style"
        - Love and the Anniversary Crisis/Love and the Conjugal Visit/Love and the Dream Burglar/Love and the Hotel Caper/Love and the Monsters (1971) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Monsters")
  26. City Beneath the Sea (1971) (TV) .... Dr. Talty
    ... aka One Hour to Doomsday (UK: theatrical title)

  27. Paroxismus (1969) .... Jimmy Logan
    ... aka Black Angel
    ... aka Jess Franco's Venus in Furs (USA: bootleg title)
    ... aka Paroxsysmos
    ... aka Puņ una morta rivivere per amore?
  28. The Man from the 25th Century (1968) (TV)
  29. "The Time Tunnel" .... Dr. Tony Newman
        - Visitors from Beyond the Stars (1967) TV Episode .... Dr. Tony Newman
        - The Death Trap (1966) TV Episode .... Dr. Tony Newman
        - Revenge of the Gods (1966) TV Episode .... Dr. Tony Newman
        - The Day the Sky Fell In (1966) TV Episode .... Dr. Tony Newman
        - One Way to the Moon (1966) TV Episode .... Dr. Tony Newman
          (1 more)
  30. "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
        - The Mechanical Man (1966) TV Episode .... Mr. Omir
  31. "The Flintstones"
        - Surfin' Fred (1965) TV Episode (voice) .... Jimmy Darrock
  32. The Lively Set (1964) .... Casey Owens
  33. For Those Who Think Young (1964) .... Dean Pruitt
  34. Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964) .... Singer
  35. Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) .... Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
  36. Diamond Head (1963) .... Paul Kahana
  37. The Guns of Navarone (1961) .... Pvt. Spyros Pappadimos
  38. Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) .... Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
  39. Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) .... Nick Romano
  40. All the Young Men (1960) .... Pvt. Cotton
  41. Because They're Young (1960) .... Cameo appearance

  42. The Gene Krupa Story (1959) .... Eddie Sirota
    ... aka Drum Crazy (UK)
  43. Gidget (1959) .... Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
  44. "The Donna Reed Show"
        - April Fool (1959) TV Episode .... Buzz Berry
  45. Gunman's Walk (1958) .... Davy Hackett
  46. The Tijuana Story (1957) .... Mitch
  47. The Brothers Rico (1957) .... Johnny Rico
  48. Operation Mad Ball (1957) .... Pvt. Widowskas
  49. "The Web"
        - Kill and Run (1957) TV Episode .... Tony Roberts
  50. Rumble on the Docks (1956) .... Jimmy Smigelski

 

Filmography as: Actor, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself

Director - filmography
(1990s) (1980s)

  1. "Savannah" (1996) TV Series
  2. "Nowhere Man"
        - The Incredible Derek (1995) TV Episode
  3. "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993) TV Series (episode "Storm Warning")
  4. "Renegade" (1992) TV Series
  5. "Melrose Place" (1992) TV Series
  6. "Raven" (1992) TV Series
  7. "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) TV Series (episode "Pledging my Love") (episode "Strike the Match")

  8. "Hardball" (1989) TV Series
  9. Police Story: Gladiator School (1988) (TV)
  10. "Something Is Out There" (1988) TV Series
  11. "Werewolf" (1987) TV Series
  12. "Stingray"
        - Night Maneuvers (1987) TV Episode
  13. "T.J. Hooker"
        - Into the Night (1986) TV Episode
  14. "Hunter" (1984) TV Series (multiple episodes 1987-1991)
  15. "The A-Team" (1983) TV Series

 

Filmography as: Actor, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
(2000s) (1960s) (1950s)

  1. Hearts in Atlantis (2001) (performer: "Come Fly With Me" from a recording)

  2. The 36th Annual Academy Awards (1964) (TV) (singer: "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World")

  3. The 31st Annual Academy Awards (1959) (TV) (singer: "Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from Houseboat) ")

 

Filmography as: Actor, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Himself

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s)

  1. "Larry King Live"
        - Episode dated 23 February 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself

  2. Battle of the Network Stars XVI (1984) (TV) .... Himself (ABC Team contestant)

  3. "Celebrity Sweepstakes"
        - Episode dated 10 September 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 29 March 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 23 June 1975 (1975) TV Episode .... Himself
  4. "Liar's Club"
        - Episode dated 4 October 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself
  5. "Baffle"
    ... aka All-Star Baffle (USA: new title)
        - Episode dated 18 March 1974 (1974) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 7 January 1974 (1974) TV Episode .... Himself
  6. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
    ... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
        - Episode dated 2 May 1973 (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 24 April 1973 (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
  7. "The Virginia Graham Show"
        - Episode dated 14 April 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
  8. Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971) .... Himself
    ... aka Mooch (USA: video title)
  9. "Bandstand"
    ... aka AB (USA: short title)
    ... aka American Bandstand (USA: new title)
    ... aka American Bandstand 1966 (USA: ninth season title)
    ... aka New American Bandstand 1965 (USA: new title)
    ... aka VH1's Best of American Bandstand (USA: rerun title)
        - Episode dated 30 May 1970 (1970) TV Episode .... Himself

  10. "It Takes Two"
        - Episode dated 1 September 1969 (1969) TV Episode .... Panelist
  11. "The Mike Douglas Show"
        - Episode dated 8 January 1968 (1968) TV Episode .... Himself
  12. "Dream Girl of '67"
        - Episode dated 22 May 1967 (1967) TV Episode .... Himself
  13. "The Pat Boone Show"
        - Episode dated 2 May 1967 (1967) TV Episode .... Himself
  14. The 36th Annual Academy Awards (1964) (TV) .... Himself - Performer

  15. The 31st Annual Academy Awards (1959) (TV) .... Himself - Performer

 

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