With T.J. Hooker, he became the steady presence audiences trusted every week, then slipped behind the camera to direct shows that defined the ’80s and ’90s. On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he reappeared like a memory you didn’t know you missed, crooning in a holographic lounge. Now, the sets are dark and the stages silent, but his work keeps looping in the minds of those who grew up with him. In the end, James Darren leaves what every performer hopes for: not just credits, but a feeling that outlives the final scene.
