T.J. HOOKER STAR JAMES DARREN PASSES AWAY AT 88 LEAVING FANS HEARTBROKEN

Actor James Darren, famous for roles in films like *Gidget* and TV shows such as *T.J. Hooker* and *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*, has passed away at the age of 88.

According to TMZ, James Darren died peacefully in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Monday.

The exact cause of death is not known yet, but his son, Jim Moret, shared that his father had heart problems and was being treated at Cedars-Sinai’s cardiac unit.

Darren had originally gone to the hospital for an aortic valve replacement but was considered too weak to have the surgery. He was sent home but had to return to the hospital shortly after.

Jim Moret expressed his thoughts, saying, “I always thought he would pull through because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

James Darren became famous as a teen idol when he played the surfer Moondoggie in the 1959 film *Gidget*. He returned to this role in the sequels *Gidget Goes Hawaiian* and *Gidget Goes to Rome*.

He also had a notable role as police officer Jim Corrigan on *T.J. Hooker*, where he appeared in 66 episodes over four seasons.

James Darren wasn’t just an actor; he was also a singer and performed the theme song for *Gidget*. He directed episodes for shows like *Melrose Place*, *Beverly Hills, 90210*, and *The A-Team*, among others.

Rest in peace, James Darren.

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Melissa Gilbert left Los Angeles for a simple cottage life in the Catskills: See inside her happy life now

It is truly amazing when child actors grow up in front of the eyes of the audience. We see them become stars and celebrate their every success as though it’s our own.I bet most of you remember the children of the Ingalls family from Little House on the Prairie. If you do, you must be wondering where they are today and what they are up to.The second oldest daughter of the family, Laura Ingalls, was played by actress Melissa Gilbert, who captured the hearts of the fans and became an acting sensation almost overnight. Well, more or less like the rest of the cast. Melissa was featured in commercials and had some minor roles before taking the part in Little House on the Prairie. During the run of the series, she played parts in other films including The Diary of Anne Frank and The Miracle Worker.

Born on on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, Melissa was given up for adoption by her parents who each had three children from their previous marriages and feared they couldn’t provide for another child. Melissa was lucky to be welcomed into the life of her adoptive parents, actor Paul Gilbert and actress/dancer Barbara Crane, from whom she learned all about the entertainment business.

In 2015, Melissa took a role in the short film One Smart Fellow, and played in Secret and Lies and The Night Shift some years before. She is also a writer. Her autobiography Prairie Tale: A Memoir speaks of the period of her life during the famous series.

As she goes back to the time of filming the series, she recalls she had a fun time with the rest of the crew.Portraying a girl living on a farm seemed exciting back then, and it looks like Melissa got to love that way of living so she and her husband, actor-director Timothy Busfield, moved from Michigan to new home in New York a few years ago and even bought a hunting cabin and considered getting chickens and building a barn for goats and horses, she revealed during a virtual Television Critics Association panel focusing on the PBS American Masters biography “Laura Ingalls Wilder.” However, the coronavirus pandemic forced them to put their plans on hold.

Today, however, they do live in the cabin and their days seem picture perfect. The place needed a full renovation, but despite the challenges, they were determined to turn the place into a comfortable home.

The first step was getting rid of the staff the previous owners left there. Next, they needed to get rid of the rodents and mildew and fix the plumbing.

They refurbished the cabinets, installed red vinyl chairs, and heated the house with a wood fire.

Gilbert and her husband grow their own fruits and vegetables.

The actress loves her peaceful home and the challenges that living at such a place brings. She copes with her responsibilities with a smile on her face and enjoys a cup of tea at the end of each day.