Entertainer James Darren has died at age 88. To me he will always be Las Vegas singer Vic Fontaine of the Rat Pack era, a holographic mentor to Ensign Nog on Star Trek Deep Space Nine in 1998-1999. Darren was a teen heart throb with his role as Moondoggie in Gidget (1959), and had a big early career, but never quite reached stardom. He worked steadily however, with a late career resurgence based upon his role as Vic Fontaine. The father of three sons, his first brief marriage ended in divorce in 1958 and his second marriage in 1960 endured until his death. Whatever his political views were, he kept to himself. To those of us of a certain vintage, his role in The Time Tunnel (1966-1967) will always be remembered:
Atque Vale Mr. Darren, and may you be a star in the firmament of Heaven, the only stardom that truly matters.
Vic Fontaine died? Say it’s not so! I loved that character. Sounds like he was a good guy in real life as well.
I remember having his 45 rpm record, one of the three I chose for the gift of a record player for 13th birthday from my parents. Memory doesn’t serve me well enough to remember the title.
[…] LAJ7. Time for the Truth about Islamism and Its Useful Idiots – Mick Hume at European. . .8. Requiescat In Pace: James Darren – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic9. The 250-Year American Experiment in […]