** Darren grew up in South Philadelphia.

He studied acting with the legendary Stella Adler in New York City.

Playing a California surfer was a bit of a stretch, says his son, Jim Moret.

**JIM MORET:** I'm sure he could probably come in on the board and not get hurt, but I would not call him a surfer.

**BLAIR:** Moret says, for years, his father shied away from his teen idol reputation, fearing it would typecast him.

**DARREN:** (Singing) There's no such thing as the next best thing to love.

No substitute or facsimile thereof.

**BLAIR:** Born James Ercolani in 1936, Darren started singing when he was a kid.

His dad would take him to bars and nightclubs, and he would get up and sing a couple of songs.

He scored his first top-10 hit in 1961.

**BLAIR:** James Darren was versatile.

He did some directing.

He recorded albums and performed live.

As an actor, he did just about everything - a World War II movie, a police drama, science fiction.

In 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' he played Vic Fontaine, a hologram of a 1950s lounge singer.

Moret says it was perfect for him.

**MORET:** He was really talented.

He had that swagger.

He had that Rat-Pack coolness.

He was like Dick Clark, eternally young.

**DARREN:** (As Vic Fontaine) But like the man said, nothing lasts forever.

So gang, this one's from the heart.

(Singing) Someday, when I'm awfully low.

.

.

**DARREN:** (As Vic Fontaine, singing) Just thinking of you.

.

.

Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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