James Darren, the actor best known as the heartthrob Moondoggie in the Candy films, has died at the age of 88.

The former Hollywood teen star, who also starred on TV in the police series TJ Whore And Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, died peacefully Monday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from complications of a heart condition, his family said.

His son Jim Moret, a Within edition correspondent, told The Hollywood Reporter: “I always thought he would make it, because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

Darren won the lead role in the 1959 film Candy despite not being able to surf and starring opposite iconic actress Sandra Dee. He also starred in the sequels Gidget goes Hawaiian in 1961 and Gidget goes to Rome from 1963.

He played Officer Jim Corrigan in the hit 1980s police drama TJ WhoreIn the 90s he played the hologram singer Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

The former pop singer also directed TV hits like Beverly Hills 90210 And Melrose Place.

In the early 60s he had pop hits with Goodbye cruel world which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961, and Her Royal Majestywritten by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, which reached the top 10 in 1962.

He was born in Philadelphia and has had a number of famous fans over the years, The Hollywood Reporter Darren quoted author Tom Beaver as saying, “I was in a pizza place one day with a friend of mine. I heard a motorcycle pull up and Bruce Springsteen came in with his little motorcycle cap, like Brando in The Wild — I think he left his helmet outside. I said, ‘Oh, I have to say hi to him.’

“I walked up to him and said, ‘Hi, I don’t mean to interrupt you, but my name is James Darren. I just want to tell you that I’m a huge fan. I love all your stuff.’ And he said, ‘James Darren? I bought ‘Goodbye Cruel World’ in Freehold, New Jersey.’ Isn’t that sweet?”