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Nancy Sinatra pays tribute to US actor James Darren: Godspeed, sweet Jimmy

Sinatra paid tribute by sharing a selection of photos from over the years of her and Darren, who was godfather to her daughter AJ Lambert.

Naomi Clarke
Tuesday 03 September 2024 04:38 EDT
James Darren and his wife Evy Norlund (Harry Harris/AP)
James Darren and his wife Evy Norlund (Harry Harris/AP) (AP)

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Nancy Sinatra has remembered US actor James Darren as one of her ā€œdearest, closest friends in all the worldā€ following his death aged 88.

Darren rose to fame starring as Moondoggie in the 1959 comedy Gidget and more recently played Vic Fontaine in the 1990s sci-fi series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Sinatra paid tribute by sharing a selection of photos from over the years of her and Darren, who was godfather to her daughter AJ Lambert.

ā€œOne of my dearest, closest friends in all the world, of all my life has passed awayā€, the singer and actress, who is the eldest daughter of Frank Sinatra, wrote alongside the post on X, formerly Twitter.

ā€œGodfather to my daughter, AJ. Wishing him a fast & beautiful journey through the Universe & beyond.

ā€œGodspeed, sweet Jimmy. My heart is torn but full of love for Evy, Christian, Anthony & Jimmy Jr.ā€

Darrenā€™s son Jim Moret thanked Sinatra for her ā€œkind and loving wordsā€, adding in the comments: ā€œNancy, my father loved you.ā€

Throughout out his career, the actor appeared in TV programmes such as Melrose Place, Fantasy Island and in TJ Hooker in the 1980s alongside William Shatner.

He is arguably best know for his role in Gidget and he returned for the filmā€™s sequels ā€“ 1961ā€™s Gidget Goes Hawaiian and 1963ā€™s Gidget Goes to Rome.

Darren also directed episodes for shows including Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.

He last appeared in 2017ā€™s drama Lucky directed by John Carroll Lynch.

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