The actor and singer James Darren has died at the age of 88. On screen, he was forever young, a teen heartthrob who starred in the "Gidget" beach movies. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has an appreciation.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- James Darren, the former teen idol and pop singer known for his role as Moondoggie in the "Gidget" films from the late '50s and early '60s, died Monday. He was 88.

Darren was born James Ercolani in 1936 and grew up in South Philadelphia, not far from such fellow teen idols of the 1950s and ’60s as Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Singing came easy to him ...

Darren was born James Ercolani in 1936 and grew up in South Philadelphia, not far from such fellow teen idols of the 1950s and ’60s as Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Singing came easy to him ...

Darren was born James Ercolani in 1936 and grew up in South Philadelphia, not far from such fellow teen idols of the 1950s and ’60s as Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Singing came easy to him ...