James Darren, best known for his roles in “Gidget” and “TJ Hooker,” has died at the age of 88.

The actor died peacefully in his sleep on September 2 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a statement on his website said.

Darren’s son, “Inside Edition” correspondent Jim Moret, told The Hollywood Reporter that his father was scheduled to undergo aortic valve replacement surgery, but doctors said he was too weak to do so.

“I always thought he would make it because he was so cool. He was always cool,” Moret told the outlet.

Darren’s glittering Hollywood career saw him act and sing. He even tried his hand at directing episodes of TV shows, including series like “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Melrose Place.”

His directing stint lasted about two years, during which he worked on other shows including “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Hunter.”

In the 1950s, Darren got his big break after landing the role of Moondoggie, a surfer boy in the 1959 hit film “Gidget.”

In the 1980s, Darren landed the role of Officer Jim Corrigan in the television series “TJ Hooker” – which became one of the most successful roles of his career.

Over the course of his career, Darren’s on-screen success earned him a recording contract, like many other actors of the time.

He subsequently released two successful singles, “Goodbye Cruel World” and “Her Royal Majesty”, both of which reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Additionally, “Goodbye Cruel World” has stood the test of time, as it appeared in the soundtrack of Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film “The Fabelmans,” released in 2022.

Darren remained a fixture on television, appearing in the late 1960s as the lead in the sci-fi series “The Time Tunnel.” He also had several guest roles on such series as “The Love Boat,” “Hawaii Five-O” and “Fantasy Island.”

He became a regular on the four-season series of William Shatner-starrer “TJ Hooker” in the 1980s. Darren also appeared in several episodes of “Star Trek, Deep Space Nine.”

Darren also appeared in several Columbia Studios films, including “The Brothers Rico”, “Operation Meatball” and “The Guns of Navarone”.

His last film role was in the 2017 film “Lucky”, directed by John Carroll Lynch.

Born James Ercolani in 1936, the actor grew up in South Philadelphia before getting his big break in New York City in 1958.

Shortly after a talent scout noticed Darren, he was signed by Columbia Pictures.

He met his first wife, Gloria, in 1955. The couple welcomed son Moret, a former CNN anchor.

After the couple divorced, Darren married Danish model Evy Norlund — then a Miss Universe contestant. They had two sons, Christian and Anthony.

Darren was also godfather to Nancy Sinatra’s daughter AJ Lambert.

Sinatra shared a loving tribute to Darren on X, writing, “One of my dearest, best friends in the world, of my entire life, has passed away. Godfather to my daughter, AJ.”

“I wish him a swift 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,” she added.

“Nancy My father loved you. Thank you so much for your kind and loving words,” Moret commented on the post.