Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor, James Darren, passes away at age 88

James Darren graced the holographic stage inside Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for only eight episodes between 1998-1999, but his character, Vic Fontaine, left a mark on fans who quickly grew to love the wise, savvy crooner. One of the most memorable episodes, season seven's "It's Only a Paper Moon" remains one of the top-rated of the series with Nog [Aron Eisenberg] spending the entire episode inside a hologram because he doesn't want to face life without a leg. It takes a good dose of Fontaine wisdom and tough love to show Nog that his life was still worth living. And he made it a good life much like Darren himself did.

The legendary singer and actor passed away on September 2 at the age of 88. According to his son, Jim Moret, the actor and singer was being treated by the cardiac unit at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. [via Variety] Darren expressed his love to his family before he passed away, and Moret called his father "a good man" who was talented and "forever young."

Prior to his role on Deep Space Nine, Darren played the no-nonsense cop, Jim Corrigan, in the cop drama "T.J. Hooker." That was where he worked with his first captain in Star Trek, William Shatner. But it was as a teen idol and singer that Darren got his start, playing Jeff Matthews {Moondoggle] on a string of popular beach movies that started with "Gidget."

Darren's last television credit was in the Harry Dean Stanton film "Lucky" in 2017. He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Evy, his sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren, and Tony Darren; and five grandchildren. We here at Red Shirts Always Die send our condolences to his family. Watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine won't be the same.