BREAKING NEWS
James Darren, the iconic actor and musician who brought a touch of cool to the Star Trek franchise as Captain McCoy’s son in the classic episode "A Piece of the Action", has sadly passed away at the age of 88.
Born on June 27, 1936, James Darren was an American actor, singer, and director who got his start in the entertainment industry as a teen idol. He rose to fame with his smooth vocals and boyish charm, releasing hits like "Good Little Girl" and "Con Te Partirò".
Throughout his career, Darren’s versatility and talent earned him roles in numerous films, television shows, and musicals. His iconic status as a "cool cat" was cemented during his guest appearance on Star Trek: The Original Series in 1968.
In the episode "A Piece of the Action", Darren played the role of Anton Karidian, a charismatic gangster who visits the USS Enterprise and allows Captain Kirk and his crew to participate in a cultural exchange with his gang-dominated planet. The episode was a fan favorite and marked a memorable moment in James Darren’s career.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved James Darren," said a statement from the James Darren Estate. "We will always remember his effortless charm, his captivating on-screen presence, and the countless memories he brought to fans around the world. He will be deeply missed."
James Darren Career Highlights
- Teen Idol and singer, releasing multiple hit singles and albums in the 1950s and 1960s
- Actor, with roles in films like "The Young Savages", "Rio Conchos", and "Angel Baby"
- Star Trek: The Original Series guest star (1968) in "A Piece of the Action"
- Musician and director, with credits on various stage productions and projects
James Darren Passing
James Darren passed away on March 24, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 88. The cause of his death has not been released.
Reaction from Fellow Stars
- "Rest in peace, James. You brought a touch of cool to the Enterprise like no one else could," tweeted William Shatner, Star Trek’s iconic Captain James T. Kirk.
- "James was a talented actor and an even more talented person," said Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. "He will be deeply missed."
James Darren Top 5 Star Trek Quotes
- "There’s no law that says you can’t wear suspenders, Lieutenant."
- "I’m giving you a choice, either you and your crew walk out of here or nobody walks out of here!"
- "I may not be a good officer, but I’m not a bad one either, Captain."
- "You’re a pretty bright guy, aren’t you, Lieutenant?"
- "I’m Anton Karidian, and I think you’ll find that being a friend of mine comes with a lot of risks."
James Darren Memory Lane
- Share your favorite James Darren Star Trek moments in the comments!
- Relive the unforgettable episode "A Piece of the Action" and bask in the cool charm of James Darren’s portrayal of Anton Karidian!
**Stay tuned for updates and tributes as we celebrate the life and career of James Darren. RIP, cool cat! #JamesDarren #RIPJamesDarren #StarTrek #ACoolCat #TeenIdol #MusicLegend
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/james-darren-gidget-moondoggie-star-trek-1236127756/
I always thought Vic Fontaine brought class and cool to the later DS9 episodes. Fortunately, he will live on as long as Star Trek plays somewhere.
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Vic died during the Bell Riots 🙁
Oh man. My heart aches. What a loss. Truly.
He and Nog are finally going to build that casino.
RIP. Gonna listen to his album today.
Dude was always one of my favorite trek characters. He was a deliberately out of place character that added so much depth to everyone around him. His PTSD episode with Nog hit really hard. I know not all loved him but he brought so much to the show. He will be missed and remembered.
Edit: had to go find one of my favorite scenes. [Sisko and Vic belting out “the best is yet to come”](https://youtu.be/jZxLjNN3zpo?si=xF86ybGQxjC2J1xr).
PSA for those who don’t know: he released an album in the 90s called This One’s From the Heart with most of the songs Vic Fontaine sung on DS9. It’s on YouTube, Spotify, etc.
he was an amazing part of DS9. so glad as part of the trek family.
he’ll always be remembered.
R.I.P.
A cheesy show, but I will always associate Mr. Darren with Irwin Allen’s sf series, *The Time Tunnel*, which ran for a single season from 1966 to 1967.
Rest in peace, pally
I love the casino heist episode. It’s a full on oceans11 movie
“I’ll be seeing you” Vic, RIP pally
Loved him in both The Time Tunnel and DS9. R.I.P. Long live Vic!
If you are into podcasts, please go listen to James Darren on the Shuttlepod Show, the interview show by Enterprise cast Connor Trinnear & Dominic Keating. He tells amazing stories about growing up in Philly, getting his start in music and film, hanging out with Frank Sinatra and so much more. It’s an absolute delight.
Will make you a fan if you aren’t, and will make you ache over his loss if you are a fan. A real mensch. RIP, sir.
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Loved this man’s performances in Deep Space Nine. Rest in peace, James. Perhaps one day I’ll see you *Far Beyond the Stars* ✨
The man was full of life. That episode with Nog was so moving. ‘You stay here, you’ll die. Not all at once, but piece by piece.’
I enjoyed the reruns of the short-lived Time Tunnel. I think it’s still on MeTV or one of those similar oldies channels.
:/.
So long, pally.
The coolest cat, even showed Odo how to be cool when hitting on Kira.
Really sad for sure. He sung his last song.
Aka Moondoggie, RIP.
Does it make me a bad person if, after so many dead to young people dying of awful diseases it brings me some solace that Darren made it to 88 and there is no mention of “after a long illness” or anything in the article?
Like, still sad, still a tragedy for the family but… yay no cancer?