Profile Text
Darren at the First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony for the Gregory Peck Forever Stamp, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, CA. 04-28-11, s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: James William Ercolani
Date of Birth: June 8, 1936
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: September 2, 2024
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Italian
James Darren was an American actor, director, and singer. His roles included the films Rumble on the Docks , Operation Mad Ball , The Brothers Rico , The Tijuana Story , Gunman’s Walk , Gidget (1959), and its sequels; The Gene Krupa Story , Because They’re Young , All the Young Men , Let No Man Write My Epitaph , The Guns of Navarone , Diamond Head , Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! ; For Those Who Think Young , The Lively Set , Venus in Furs (1969), and Lucky (2017), and television’s The Time Tunnel , T. J. Hooker , which he also directed episodes of; and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . A teen pop singer, his recorded songs included “Because They’re Young,” “Goodbye Cruel World,” “Her Royal Majesty,” “Because You’re Mine,” and “Since I Don’t Have You.” He was also known as Jimmy Darren.
James was the son of Virginia Delores/Dolores and William Robert “Ray” Ercolani. His parents were born in Philadelphia, both of them to Italian parents. He was married to Evy Norlund, until his death. Evy was Miss Denmark 1958. He had a son, television corresponent Jim Moret (born James William Ercolani), with his former wife Gloria Terlitsky; and two children with Evy.
James’ pateral grandfather was named Vincenzo “James” Ercolani. Vincenzo was born in Cellino Attanasio, Teramo, Abruzzo.
James’ paternal grandmother was named Genuina/Gennina “Genny”/Jenny Del Biondo. Natuccia was born in Pianella, Pescara, Abruzzo.
James’ maternal grandfather was named Giuseppe “Joseph” Lipiano/Lopiano.
James’ maternal grandmother was named Clara Bitonti/Bitonte.
Sources: Genealogies of James Darren – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com
James Darren on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org