Teen Idol & ‘T.J. Hooker’ Star James Darren Unexpectedly Dies

According to Moret, the beloved actor, known for playing the charismatic beach boy in the popular classic “Gidget,” in which he starred alongside famous late actress Sandra Dee, died while he was asleep in a hospital in Los Angeles.

The late talent’s son revealed further that his dad had been admitted to the hospital the week prior (the week of August 26) to undergo an aortic valve replacement.

However, Darren was unfortunately unable to do so as a result of not having enough strength to get the procedure done at that time.