Star Trek has lost another beloved member of the family. Actor and singer James Darren, known to fans for his recurring role as Vic Fontaine in Deep Space Nine, has passed away at age 88.
RIP James Darren
James Darren died on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where he was being treated by the cardiac unit. The news was confirmed by his son Jim Moret, who told Variety “He was a good man. He was very talented. He was forever young.”
Darren began his career as an actor, appearing in his first film (Rumble on the Docks) in 1956. His first big break was a key role in the surf-themed hit movie Gidget in 1959. He also sang the film’s leading song, making Darren a “teen idol” with a parallel career as a singer with dozens of singles, including two Billboard top 10 songs. He also released several albums starting in 1960; his latest, Live! for The First Time, came out in 2019.
1961 “Goodbye Cruel World” album
Darren’s film career was quite prolific throughout the 1960s and included a dramatic role in the 1961 hit movie The Guns of Navarone. His last film role was in the 2017’s Lucky, produced by DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr. Darren’s television career kept him quite busy in the 1960s, when he starred in the sci-fi series The Time Tunnel. He continued on with many guest and recurring roles in the following decades as well as a joining the cast of T.J. Hooker in the second season, starring alongside William Shatner.
Heather Locklear, William Shatner, and James Darren in T.J. Hooker
Darren first appeared in Deep Space Nine as Vic Fontaine in the season 6 episode “His Way” as a hologram modeled after 1960s nightclub singers, appearing in the Vic’s Las Vegas Lounge hologram program. He returned once again in season 6 and had a recurring role throughout the seventh season. Vic’s program became so popular with the crew that it would eventually be left running continuously; he became close to the crew and was even a confidant to some.
James Darren as Vic Fontaine
Darren’s final appearance was in series finale. Here is a clip of Darren as Vic Fontaine singing “The Way You Look Tonight” from the series finale “What You Leave Behind.”
Darren’s death is the latest loss from the Trek family this summer, coming less than a month after the passing of Patti Yasutake, known to fans as Nurse Ogawa in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Yasutake died on August 5th at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. And last week Obi Nedefo, who appeared as two different characters Voyager and DS9 and is best known as Bodie on Dawson’s Creek, died at 51.
TrekMovie offers our condolences to the friends and family of James Darren.
So sad to hear we’ve lost another of the fantastic ‘DS9’ cast – so many are gone now. Auberjonois, Eisenberg, Jenner, Fletcher and now Darren too.
That bit from the finale is such a moving and affecting part, reminding us, as ‘Generations’ said, to ‘cherish every moment as it’ll never come again.’
Thanks for the memories…
Thank you so much for this remembrance.
I admit I was a little skeptical of this character when I first heard about him, and (like the DS9 writing staff at the time, hilariously) I only remembered Darren from TJ Hooker. But “His Way” was so charming and heartwarming, in no small part due to Darren’s classy charisma. He was marvelous in “It’s Only A Paper Moon” and the much needed comic relief before the onslaught of DS9’s sprint to the finish in “Badda Bing Badda Bang.” I was happy to buy the album, too. Officially it was for my mother, she especially adored Darren, but I probably ended up listening to it more than she did.
In learning more about him, it’s sometimes difficult to see where he ended and Vic began – he really was just that cool.
Cool and classy indeed! Rewatching that clip and the one of “The Best Is Yet to Come” brought back wonderful memories. Such moments are why DS9 is still the best Trek series ever. And James Darren made a huge contribution! He seems by all accounts to have been a warm and caring human being. RIP
I was initially skeptical about him as well, with Vic being introduced so late in the game, and then recurring so often in one of the more bland settings on the show. But I learned to appreciate his presence, and all the music it brought to the station. 🎙🎶
Thanks for the memories, James Darren! May your soul rest in peace, while your holomatrix lives on!
There were a bunch of really great singers that came up in the early sixties who wanted to be like Sinatra or Bennett.If James was a few years older, He would have had a bigger career. Rock was just getting going in those days and was extremely controversial.A lot of people in the industry were hoping Rock and Roll was a fad The singers I’m thinking of include the likes of Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, Jack Jones, Eydie Gourmet and Julie London. I love singers like this and the passing of James Darren is a loss to Me.
My wife loved Tony Bennet (and the Cure and Alice in Chains and Neil Young). She introduced me to Bobby Darrin, who I really like, and Tom Jones, who we saw in Vegas.
James Darren was just wonderful. Such a cool, classy guy and a great singer too. I’m sending prayers to his family and friends.
What about him being in Time Tunnel?
It was campy at times yet very good too
So much more than DS9, I never missed an episode of that show with him in it. Ironically ,He would also be well known for Co-staring in TJ Hooker with William Shatner. He worked with Sally Field in Gidget and recorded many albums. He had a great career and I enjoyed him very much.
it’s crazy he was only in 8 eps over 2 seasons… felt like he was there a lot longer. i think ds9 was so good because you felt everyone was there even if the weren’t physically in the episode. i think they refer to vic sometimes without having him on. he was an amazing addition because vic was different… something out of left field an anachronistic lounge singer handing out advice and songs in the future… total class act.
Vic Fontaine : You stay here, you’re gonna die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually, you’ll become as hollow as I am.
Nog : You don’t seem hollow to me.
Vic Fontaine : Compared to you, I’m hollow as a snare drum
Friggin awesome
Liked him in DS9 … First seen him in the Time Tunnel
James Darren had a very interesting career that included several iconic television series, movies, and a genuinely successful music career. He was always fun to watch. Condolences to his family and friends. His memory lives on as a hologram brightening up DS9, and many other things.
Don’t see any recent TMP stories, so will just drop word here that there is a 4k steelbook of TMP coming out in November. I’m not a fan of steelbooks, but for the completists out there … has runtime listed as 2:25, wonder if that is a mistake.
Oh no Tony Neuman is no more. Doug is still with us.
That was his big sci fi lead role. RIP.
I was definitely a fan of Doug, Tony seemed like a hothead, kind of the American Chekov, even if a year ahead of that debut.
Tony was exciting, though; the Kirk to Doug’s Spock.
Obi Nedefo had a great turn in my favorite Voyager episode, “Blink of an Eye,” as an early Protector of the weird planet that moved faster in time etc. Great performance, great episode, sad to hear of his passing.
Voyager has some really great episodes exploring intriguing concepts – “Blink of an Eye” would be near the top of that list. “Living Witness” looking at how historical views change over time is another one. “Distant Origins” with the dinosaur species denying its Earthy origin is my personal favorite.
I missed much of the latter portion of “Voyager’s” original run when I moved into an apartment with terrible TV reception, and given my indifference with the show by then didn’t pay it much mind to be honest. (I did watch the series finale at my parents’ house, which more or less lived up to my expectations.) But as one of the shows I missed, I always thought “Blink of an Eye” sounded very intriguing, and still intend to get around to it eventually.
It is very worthwhile. I think a lot of Voyager gets overlooked because people were starting to get Trek fatigue by the time its later seasons happened, but they were firing on all cylinders still creatively.
I think it was at the guest-packed 35th anniversary Star Trek convention that Slanted Fedora hosted in Las Vegas in 2001 that James Darren said the item he got to keep from the DS9 set was the “Vic Fontaine” sign. He told the fans that it was hanging in his garage.
always wanted him to show up on Voyager .
It could have been so easily done .
Voyager left from DS-9 . All you would have to do is find the copy of Vic that an unnamed and deceased from the pilot crew man had in their personal effects.
With all the Holo deck episodes , on Voyager he would have been a great addition and a great foil for the Doctor in the later seasons.
Vic wins the Holo emitter in a card game with the Dr , high jinks ensues !
This is of course awful. RIP Mr. Darren and best wishes to his friends and family and costars.
Beautiful sendoff for him. Thanks writing staff.
I suspect most of his fans and the character will probably already know this, but around the time of his DS9 era, he released an album called “This One’s From the Heart” – which is pretty much the Vic Fontaine album. Almost all of the songs he sang in the show are on there. It’s a gem.
I see it’s shot up the charts on Amazon. #1 in the Traditional Vocal Pop, to the point where all physical copies are sold out!
nice.
Thanks for the heads up! I picked up a copy up here north of the border.
Sad to read of the passing of James Darren, I was hoping he might have another chance to appear at one of the upcoming Trek conventions.
The first time I heard him sing was when I was a kid and he appeared on an episode of The Flintstones as Jimmy DarROCK singing The Surf’n Craze. He was so good playing Vic Fontaine on DS9. His duet with Avery Brooks was a classic as was his appearance in the DS9 finale.
RIP James Darren.
So sad. RIP.
Goodbye pally.
This is indeed very sad news. I’m old enough to remember watching Darren in Gidget He was so fun to watch in that and very handsome.
Loved him so much on DS9 of course. The duet he sings with Avery Brooks is just fantastic and one of my favorite moments on the show.
It’s always sad to see someone pass but he had a great life and will be remembered.
This is such sad news. He lived a great life though and we always have his songs on DS9.
Not to remotely try to take away from this event, but Patti Yasutake (Nurse Ogawa from TNG) passed away a few weeks ago and she didn’t get a post. She was just as important to TNG as Mr. Darren was to DS9 and I would have loved to have seen a post celebrating her too.
posts like this have not been a regular thing on this site but it time that it was, hopefully starting with this tribute to mr darren.
You’re right, but at least there was this:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C-WLDx_MpVl
RIP, pally. Never forgotten.
I watched Only a Paper Moon the other day when I heard he passed. Still a great episode and he was at his best in it. It’s a bit surreal watching it since he and Aron Eisenberg are now gone. A reminder of how short life really is.
RIP