James Darren had been married to his wife and actress Evy Norlund for 64 years till the day he passed. She has had a great impact on his life and career.
Key Takeaways
- James Darren was an American television and film actor, television director, and singer.
- Darren was married to Evy Norlund in 1960.
- The couple had two sons in the years 1960 and 1964.
James Darren And His Wife Had Been Married For Six Decades
James Darren was married to his second wife, Evy Norlund, until he passed away on September 2, 2024.
The couple had been married for more than six decades and remained happily married until the end.
There had been several rough patches in the married life of the actor’s first marriage with Gloria Terlitsky.
Gloria and James had been sweethearts since 1953.
However, her father opposed their relationship because Terlitsky was Jewish and James was a Catholic.
They had to get a divorce due to this.
The former pair, similarly, had a son, James Jr., also known as Jimmy. The third husband of his mom later adopted him.
Jimmy later became a journalist and TV commentator and went by the name of Jimmy Moret.
James Darren with his wife Evy Norlund and their baby son, Christian.
— Jessica Pickens (@HollywoodComet) September 3, 2024
Source: TV Radio Mirror Magazine, Aug. 1961 pic.twitter.com/3Y9S5BywV8
Likewise, two years after his separation from his first wife, James got married to Miss Denmark in 1958 and actress Evy Norlund.
The couple had two children, Christian and Anthony, in years 1960 and 1964, respectively.
After getting together, their story, as well as their pictures, had been famously covered by papers throughout America.
James and Evy were often spotted together in just about any event they would go to until recently.
Given their long age of marriage, the pair had always been considered ideal by all.
James Darren Lived Till 88
Darren passed away at the age of 88, after being prominent in the world of films and entertainment for a long time.
He was hospitalized for an aortic valve replacement before passing.
The actor had been “deemed too weak” while in the hospital.
His son Jim Moret confirmed to Variety and Hollywood Reporter that he spent his last days at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Moret said,
“He was a good man. He was very talented. He was forever young.”
Via The Hollywood Reporter
Further, singer and songwriter Nancy Sinatra paid tribute to the late singer.
“One of my dearest, closest friends in all the world, of all my life has passed away,” Sinatra wrote alongside a photo collage of the two. “Wishing him a fast (and) beautiful journey through the universe (and) beyond. Godspeed, sweet Jimmy. My heart is torn but full of love for Evy, Christian, Anthony (and) Jimmy Jr.”
Via X
James Darren’s Life And Career
James was always a singer and passionate about acting, even as a kid.
Born in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of Philadelphia, he was of Italian descent.
His journey in acting started when he moved to New York to pursue his dreams. Darren studied with Stella Adler for many years.
He once mentioned having to accompany his father to bars as a kid. Whenever he was asked, he sang a song or two every time he went.
Maurice Seymour took his pictures, and James was later discovered by Joyce Selznick, the talent agent and casting director.
When Darren appeared in 1959’s Gidget, he got the recognition he had always deserved as an actor.
He went on to appear in several other projects like The Gene Krupa Story, All the Young Men, and Let No Man Write My Epitaph.
Similarly, his pop song “Goodbye Cruel World” gained immense love from his young fans, which made him a music icon in no time.
James has worked with Irwin Allen several times in his career on projects, including Voyage at the Bottom of the Sea and The Time Tunnel.
He was also a TV guest star on several shows and directed several projects in his lifetime.
The late actor has definitely left a legacy in the entertainment industry that can never be replaced.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before appearing in commercial films, James Darren had to play a major role in a B-grade film.
- Stella Adler had coached him to become an actor.
- A lot of fans in the 1950s knew James as “Moondoggie” after his character in Gidget.
