James Darren who went from Teen Idol status acting in youth oriented movies like G to becoming an actor in TV shows such as Star Trek Deep Space 9 and TJ hooker and a singer and director died Monday at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles he was 88 his son Jim Mor said that he had been able to express his love for his family while being treated in the cardiac unit he was a good man he was very talented more it said he was forever ever young morat said he was grateful that his father had been able to embrace his signature role as the Sur from dagi in the G movie and that he continued to interact with his fans born in Philadelphia he studied acting with Stella Adler in New York and was signed to Columbia pictures where his first role was in rumble on the docks he went on to appear in films including operation Madball and Gunman's Walk before being cast in the 19519 movie gigg starring Sandra D and Cliff Robertson Darren also sang the title track for the hit movie which was based on the experiences of a Teenage surfer girl in Malibu and later became a popular TV series The Gig theme song launched a successful singer career for Darren who had a gold record with Goodbye cruel world in 1961 and released at least 14 albums he continued to appear in feature films including the guns of naon the Jean Kupa story all the young men and because they're young he reprised his role asagi and gig goes ha wine and again in G goes to Rome though he was tired of the type casting by then moving into television he starred in the series The Time title and after a brief soldier in Italy appearing in Jess franos Venus and F he went on to guests ter on numerous series including Love American Style Fantasy Island and The Love Boat Darren was a regular on TJ hooker from 1983 to 19 86 and also moved into TV directing working on series including Beverly Hills 9210 and melo's place he found a new generation of fans in 1998 as Vic Fontan the holographic clown singer on star track Deep Space 9 he is survived by his wife every son's Jim Mor Christian Darren and Tony Darren and five grandchild