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{{real world}}
 
{{real world}}
 
{{Sidebar actor|
 
{{Sidebar actor|
| Name = James Darren
+
|name = James Darren
| Birth name = James William Ercolani
+
|birth name = James William Ercolani
| image = James Darren.jpg
+
|image = James Darren.jpg
| Date of birth = {{d|8|June|1936}}
+
|birthday = {{d|8|June|1936}}
| Place of birth = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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|birthplace = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  +
|roles = [[:Category:Performers|Actor]]
| Characters = [[Vic Fontaine]], [[Vic Fontaine (mirror)]]
 
| image2 = Vic Fontaine.jpg
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|characters = [[Vic Fontaine]]<br/>[[Vic Fontaine (mirror)]]
| imagecap2 = ... as Vic Fontaine
+
|image2 = Vic Fontaine.jpg
 
|caption2 = ... as Vic Fontaine
| image3 = Mirror-vic.jpg
+
|image3 = Mirror-vic.jpg
| imagecap3 = ... as mirror universe Vic Fontaine
 
  +
|caption3 = ... as mirror universe Vic Fontaine
 
}}
 
}}
   
'''James Darren''' {{born|8|June|1936}} is an actor, director, and singer known for his role as the holographic lounge singer [[Vic Fontaine]] on {{s|5}}. He also played the [[Vic Fontaine (mirror)|mirror version of Vic]] in the episode {{e|The Emperor's New Cloak}} and is best known for his regular roles in the television series ''The Time Tunnel'' and ''T.J. Hooker'' with [[William Shatner]].
+
'''James Darren''' {{born|8|June|1936}} is an actor, director, and singer known for his role as the holographic lounge singer [[Vic Fontaine]] on {{s|DS9}}. He also played the [[mirror universe]] version of {{mu|Vic Fontaine|Vic}} in the [[DS9 Season 7|seventh season]] episode {{e|The Emperor's New Cloak}} and is best known for his regular roles in the television series ''The Time Tunnel'' and ''T.J. Hooker'' with [[William Shatner]].
   
 
== Personal ==
 
== Personal ==
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Other acting credits in the '60s include the drama ''Because They're Young'' (1960), the war drama ''All the Young Men'' (1960, with [[Paul Baxley]]), the drama ''Let No Man Write My Epitaph'' (1960, with [[Ricardo Montalban]] and uncredited appearances by [[Peter Brocco]] and [[Roy Jenson]]), the war drama ''The Guns of Navarone'' (1961) (with [[Walter Gotell]]), the romance ''Diamond Head'' (1963, with [[France Nuyen]]), the comedy ''For Those Who Think Young'' (1964), the action film ''The Lively Set'' (1964, with [[Charles Drake]]), the horror film ''Paroxismus'' (1969), and an episode of ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (1966, with [[Seymour Cassel]]).
 
Other acting credits in the '60s include the drama ''Because They're Young'' (1960), the war drama ''All the Young Men'' (1960, with [[Paul Baxley]]), the drama ''Let No Man Write My Epitaph'' (1960, with [[Ricardo Montalban]] and uncredited appearances by [[Peter Brocco]] and [[Roy Jenson]]), the war drama ''The Guns of Navarone'' (1961) (with [[Walter Gotell]]), the romance ''Diamond Head'' (1963, with [[France Nuyen]]), the comedy ''For Those Who Think Young'' (1964), the action film ''The Lively Set'' (1964, with [[Charles Drake]]), the horror film ''Paroxismus'' (1969), and an episode of ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (1966, with [[Seymour Cassel]]).
   
Parallel to {{s|1}}, Darren portrayed the leading role of Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction series ''The Time Tunnel'' (1966-1967). Fellow ''Trek'' actors [[Whit Bissell]] and [[Lee Meriwether]] were part of the main cast while ''Trek'' stunt performers [[Charlie Picerni]] and [[David Sharpe]] served as stunt doubles for Darren. The series featured fellow Trek alumni [[John Winston]], [[Bart La Rue]], [[Warren Stevens]], [[Paul Fix]], [[Paul Carr]], [[Torin Thatcher]], [[Victor Lundin]], [[Joseph Ruskin]], [[Abraham Sofaer]], [[Paul Comi]], [[Lawrence Montaigne]], [[Bruce Mars]], [[Perry Lopez]], [[Theo Marcuse]], [[David Opatoshu]], [[Nehemiah Persoff]], [[Michael Ansara]], [[Dick Geary]], [[Elizabeth Rogers]], [[Malachi Throne]], [[Peter Brocco]], [[Dick Dial]], [[John Crawford]], [[Vince Howard]], [[John Hoyt]], [[Arnold Moss]], [[Rhodes Reason]], [[Anthony Caruso]], [[Robert Walker]], [[Arthur Batanides]], [[Chuck Hicks]] and [[Gil Perkins]] in guest roles. Writers included [[Carey Wilber]] and [[Robert Hamner]], and the show also featured music by [[George Duning]]. After ''The Time Tunnel'' was cancelled, producer {{w|Irwin Allen}} cast Darren in the titular role of the sci-fi pilot ''The Man From the 25th Century'', which also featured [[John Crawford]], however the project was not picked up as a series.
+
Parallel to {{s|TOS}}, Darren portrayed the leading role of Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction series ''The Time Tunnel'' (1966-1967). Fellow ''Trek'' actors [[Whit Bissell]] and [[Lee Meriwether]] were part of the main cast while ''Trek'' stunt performers [[Charlie Picerni]] and [[David Sharpe]] served as stunt doubles for Darren. The series featured fellow Trek alumni [[John Winston]], [[Bart La Rue]], [[Warren Stevens]], [[Paul Fix]], [[Paul Carr]], [[Torin Thatcher]], [[Victor Lundin]], [[Joseph Ruskin]], [[Abraham Sofaer]], [[Paul Comi]], [[Lawrence Montaigne]], [[Bruce Mars]], [[Perry Lopez]], [[Theo Marcuse]], [[David Opatoshu]], [[Nehemiah Persoff]], [[Michael Ansara]], [[Dick Geary]], [[Elizabeth Rogers]], [[Malachi Throne]], [[Peter Brocco]], [[Dick Dial]], [[John Crawford]], [[Vince Howard]], [[John Hoyt]], [[Arnold Moss]], [[Rhodes Reason]], [[Anthony Caruso]], [[Robert Walker]], [[Arthur Batanides]], [[Chuck Hicks]] and [[Gil Perkins]] in guest roles. Writers included [[Carey Wilber]] and [[Robert Hamner]], and the show also featured music by [[George Duning]]. After ''The Time Tunnel'' was cancelled, producer {{w|Irwin Allen}} cast Darren in the titular role of the sci-fi pilot ''The Man From the 25th Century'', which also featured [[John Crawford]], however the project was not picked up as a series.
   
 
While touring through the United States, Darren participated in a few film projects such as the science fiction television movie ''City Beneath the Sea'' (1971, with Whit Bissell), the drama ''The Lives of Jenny Dolan'' (1975, with [[Percy Rodriguez]], [[Paul Carr]], [[Rod Arrants]], and [[Alan Oppenheimer]]), and the drama ''The Boss' Son'' (1978). He was also more prominently seen as guest actor in a few television series including ''S.W.A.T.'' (1976, with [[David Opatoshu]] and [[Paul Sorensen]]), ''Police Woman'' (1976, with [[Charles Dierkop]]), ''Baa Baa Black Sheep'' (1977, with [[Joey Aresco]] and [[John Larroquette]]), ''Charlie's Angels'' (1977, with [[Patty Maloney]]), ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1978-1979, with [[Nehemiah Persoff]] and [[Brian Tochi]]), ''Vega$'' (1980, with [[William Lucking]]), ''The Love Boat'' (1981, with [[Gina Hecht]]), and ''Fantasy Island'' (1979-1982, starring Ricardo Montalban, and with [[Wendy Schaal]]).
 
While touring through the United States, Darren participated in a few film projects such as the science fiction television movie ''City Beneath the Sea'' (1971, with Whit Bissell), the drama ''The Lives of Jenny Dolan'' (1975, with [[Percy Rodriguez]], [[Paul Carr]], [[Rod Arrants]], and [[Alan Oppenheimer]]), and the drama ''The Boss' Son'' (1978). He was also more prominently seen as guest actor in a few television series including ''S.W.A.T.'' (1976, with [[David Opatoshu]] and [[Paul Sorensen]]), ''Police Woman'' (1976, with [[Charles Dierkop]]), ''Baa Baa Black Sheep'' (1977, with [[Joey Aresco]] and [[John Larroquette]]), ''Charlie's Angels'' (1977, with [[Patty Maloney]]), ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1978-1979, with [[Nehemiah Persoff]] and [[Brian Tochi]]), ''Vega$'' (1980, with [[William Lucking]]), ''The Love Boat'' (1981, with [[Gina Hecht]]), and ''Fantasy Island'' (1979-1982, starring Ricardo Montalban, and with [[Wendy Schaal]]).
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After the end of ''T.J. Hooker'', Darren made only a few guest performances in the television series ''Raven'' (1992, with [[Paul Collins]]), ''Renegade'' (1992, with [[Branscombe Richmond]] and [[Tracy Scoggins]]), ''Silk Stalkings'' (1994, with Charlie Brill, [[Gary Frank]], and [[Jon Rashad Kamal]]), and ''Diagnosis Murder'' (1997, with [[Darwyn Carson]]). He also portrayed the cruel Tony Marlin in five episodes of the drama series ''Melrose Place'' in 1999, along with ''Trek'' performers [[Mark L. Taylor]], [[Dey Young]], [[Kathleen Garrett]], [[Susan Savage]], and [[David Doty]].
 
After the end of ''T.J. Hooker'', Darren made only a few guest performances in the television series ''Raven'' (1992, with [[Paul Collins]]), ''Renegade'' (1992, with [[Branscombe Richmond]] and [[Tracy Scoggins]]), ''Silk Stalkings'' (1994, with Charlie Brill, [[Gary Frank]], and [[Jon Rashad Kamal]]), and ''Diagnosis Murder'' (1997, with [[Darwyn Carson]]). He also portrayed the cruel Tony Marlin in five episodes of the drama series ''Melrose Place'' in 1999, along with ''Trek'' performers [[Mark L. Taylor]], [[Dey Young]], [[Kathleen Garrett]], [[Susan Savage]], and [[David Doty]].
   
Darren's only known acting part after ''Deep Space Nine'' is the role of Allen in the drama ''Random Acts'' in 2001.
+
After ''Deep Space Nine'', Darren has rarely acted. He played the role of Allen in the drama ''Random Acts'' (2001), and Paulie in ''Lucky'' (2017, with [[Ed Begley Jr.]] and [[Bertila Damas]]).
   
 
== Music career ==
 
== Music career ==
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* [http://www.jamesdarren.com JamesDarren.com] &ndash; official site
 
* [http://www.jamesdarren.com JamesDarren.com] &ndash; official site
 
* {{Wikipedia}}
 
* {{Wikipedia}}
* {{IMDb-link|page=nm0201626}}
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* {{imdb|name/nm0201626||external}}
 
* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9ftxqt5ldfe James Darren] at the [http://www.allmusic.com AMG]
 
* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9ftxqt5ldfe James Darren] at the [http://www.allmusic.com AMG]
  +
* {{startrek.com|forever-fontaine-undefined-an-interview-with-DS9undefineds-james-darren|Forever Fontaine - An Interview with DS9's James Darren|article}}
  +
* {{startrek.com|darren}}
   
  +
{{DEFAULTSORT|Darren, James}}
 
[[de:James Darren]]
 
[[de:James Darren]]
 
[[es:James Darren]]
 
[[es:James Darren]]
 
[[nl:James Darren]]
 
[[nl:James Darren]]
[[Category:Performers|Darren, James]]
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[[Category:Performers]]
[[Category:DS9 performers|Darren, James]]
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[[Category:DS9 performers]]

Revision as of 09:25, 2 July 2020

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

James Darren (born 8 June 1936; age 87) is an actor, director, and singer known for his role as the holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also played the mirror universe version of Vic in the seventh season episode "The Emperor's New Cloak" and is best known for his regular roles in the television series The Time Tunnel and T.J. Hooker with William Shatner.

Personal

Darren, born James William Ercolani, is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and moved to New York City to fulfill his dream to become a singer and actor. After a short time taking acting lessons he met Columbia Pictures talent agent Joyce Selznick who gave him a seven year contract with Columbia. In 1955 he moved to Hollywood, California and stood in front of the camera for nineteen Columbia films. The following year he took his stage name James Darren, named after the Kaiser-Darrin sports car.

In 1955 Darren and his first wife Gloria Terlitsky married. They later divorced in 1959. Terlitsky is also the mother of Darren's first son, James "Jim" Jr. During his early years he was friends with the famous Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Peter Lawford. He was also chosen to be the godfather of Angela Jennifer Lambert, daughter of Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy.

Since 1960, Darren has been married to Evy Norlund, Miss Denmark 1958, the actress who played Suzanne Fontaine in the 1959 movie The Flying Fontaines. The couple has two sons.

Acting career

After Darren received his seven year contract with Columbia he starred and co-starred in films such as the drama Rumble on the Docks (1956, with Celia Lovsky), the war comedy Operation Mad Ball (1957, with Dick Crockett and Roy Jenson), the drama The Brothers Rico (1957), the crime drama The Tijuana Story (1957), the western Gunman's Walk (1958), and the biopic The Gene Krupa Story (1959, with Susan Oliver, Yvonne Craig, Lawrence Dobkin, an uncredited Stanley Adams and Celia Lovsky). Other appearances include the television series The Web (1957, with DeForest Kelley), The Donna Reed Show (1959, with Ted Knight), and The Lineup (1959).

In 1959 Darren earned the audiences attraction for playing Jeffrey "Moondoggie" Matthews in the comedy Gidget, which also featured Yvonne Craig. Darren would reprise his role for the two following Gidget films Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961, with music by George Duning) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963).

Other acting credits in the '60s include the drama Because They're Young (1960), the war drama All the Young Men (1960, with Paul Baxley), the drama Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960, with Ricardo Montalban and uncredited appearances by Peter Brocco and Roy Jenson), the war drama The Guns of Navarone (1961) (with Walter Gotell), the romance Diamond Head (1963, with France Nuyen), the comedy For Those Who Think Young (1964), the action film The Lively Set (1964, with Charles Drake), the horror film Paroxismus (1969), and an episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1966, with Seymour Cassel).

Parallel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Darren portrayed the leading role of Dr. Anthony Newman in the science fiction series The Time Tunnel (1966-1967). Fellow Trek actors Whit Bissell and Lee Meriwether were part of the main cast while Trek stunt performers Charlie Picerni and David Sharpe served as stunt doubles for Darren. The series featured fellow Trek alumni John Winston, Bart La Rue, Warren Stevens, Paul Fix, Paul Carr, Torin Thatcher, Victor Lundin, Joseph Ruskin, Abraham Sofaer, Paul Comi, Lawrence Montaigne, Bruce Mars, Perry Lopez, Theo Marcuse, David Opatoshu, Nehemiah Persoff, Michael Ansara, Dick Geary, Elizabeth Rogers, Malachi Throne, Peter Brocco, Dick Dial, John Crawford, Vince Howard, John Hoyt, Arnold Moss, Rhodes Reason, Anthony Caruso, Robert Walker, Arthur Batanides, Chuck Hicks and Gil Perkins in guest roles. Writers included Carey Wilber and Robert Hamner, and the show also featured music by George Duning. After The Time Tunnel was cancelled, producer Irwin Allen cast Darren in the titular role of the sci-fi pilot The Man From the 25th Century, which also featured John Crawford, however the project was not picked up as a series.

While touring through the United States, Darren participated in a few film projects such as the science fiction television movie City Beneath the Sea (1971, with Whit Bissell), the drama The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975, with Percy Rodriguez, Paul Carr, Rod Arrants, and Alan Oppenheimer), and the drama The Boss' Son (1978). He was also more prominently seen as guest actor in a few television series including S.W.A.T. (1976, with David Opatoshu and Paul Sorensen), Police Woman (1976, with Charles Dierkop), Baa Baa Black Sheep (1977, with Joey Aresco and John Larroquette), Charlie's Angels (1977, with Patty Maloney), Hawaii Five-O (1978-1979, with Nehemiah Persoff and Brian Tochi), Vega$ (1980, with William Lucking), The Love Boat (1981, with Gina Hecht), and Fantasy Island (1979-1982, starring Ricardo Montalban, and with Wendy Schaal).

Between 1982 and 1986 he returned to a regular role and starred as Officer Jim Corrigan in the police drama series T.J. Hooker along with William Shatner as the title character and Richard Herd as police chief. Beside Shatner himself, Winrich Kolbe, Cliff Bole, Charlie Picerni, and Richard Compton directed him in several episodes.

After the end of T.J. Hooker, Darren made only a few guest performances in the television series Raven (1992, with Paul Collins), Renegade (1992, with Branscombe Richmond and Tracy Scoggins), Silk Stalkings (1994, with Charlie Brill, Gary Frank, and Jon Rashad Kamal), and Diagnosis Murder (1997, with Darwyn Carson). He also portrayed the cruel Tony Marlin in five episodes of the drama series Melrose Place in 1999, along with Trek performers Mark L. Taylor, Dey Young, Kathleen Garrett, Susan Savage, and David Doty.

After Deep Space Nine, Darren has rarely acted. He played the role of Allen in the drama Random Acts (2001), and Paulie in Lucky (2017, with Ed Begley Jr. and Bertila Damas).

Music career

For Gidget he performed the title song "Gidget" and the song "The Next Best Thing to Love", the previous one became a successful release the same year.

In 1961 his song "Goodbye Cruel World" stepped on position three of the US music charts and one year later his song "Her Royal Majesty" was voted into the top ten and he also lent his voice and likeness to an episode of The Flintstones (1965), with his character called "Jimmy Darrock". He also performed two times at the Academy Awards; 1959 the song "Almost in Your Arms" and 1964 the song "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World".

After his television experience with The Time Tunnel, which was cancelled after one season, Darren formed a duo with comedian Buddy Hackett and the two toured about ten years through the country. During this time he only stopped the tour for a few film breaks.

In 1999 Darren released the album "This One's From The Heart" with songs he performed as Vic Fontaine on Deep Space Nine, his first album after twenty years. The album included the following seventeen songs:

Also in 1999 he performed on stage in Atlantic City after a fourteen year break. After this album, Darren released another studio album, "Because of You", in 2001. Other songs of his can be heard in the movies Down to You (2000), Hearts in Atlantis (2001), and Chooch (2003).

Director

Darren made his directing debut during his performance in T.J. Hooker and directed the fifth season episode Into the Night in 1986. Star Trek performers in this episode include Shatner, Marc Alaimo, Rhonda Aldrich, and Philip Weyland.

Darren's directorial experience was built up with directing jobs in the following years, including episodes of The A-Team (1986, starring Dwight Schultz), Stingray (1987), Werewolf (1987-1988, starring Lance LeGault and with Brian Thompson, Ethan Phillips, and Todd Bryant), Tequila and Bonetti (1992, with Charles Rocket and Erick Avari), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993, starring Noble Willingham), Renegade (1994), Nowhere Man (1995, starring Bruce Greenwood and with DS9 co-star Mike Starr), Silk Stalkings (1994-1995, with Charlie Brill, Gina Ravera, and Nicolas Surovy), and Savannah (1996, starring Ray Wise and Beth Toussaint).

His most recent directing jobs include episodes of the television drama series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1996, with Steven Culp) and Melrose Place (1996-1997, with Lily Mariye).

Appearances as Vic Fontaine

External links