Bridging Two Worlds: Forgiveness, Healing, and Jim Moret’s Relationship with James Darren

Key Takeaways

• Jim Moret is the biological son of actor and singer James Darren and Gloria Terlitsky.
• Jim was legally adopted by the clothing manufacturer Jerry Moret at 13.
• In his memoir The Last Day of My Life, he explains his journey of forgiveness and details his relationship with his father, James Darren.

The late James Darren, celebrated for his roles in 1950s films such as Gidget and The Time Tunnel and his successful music career, passed away on September 2, 2024, at 88 due to congestive heart failure.

The news of his passing was confirmed by his son, Jim Moret, who has since found himself in the spotlight.

Jim Moret, born on December 3, 1956, in Burbank, California, is the son of James Darren and Gloria Terlitsky.

The couple separated in 1958 when Jim was just two years old, leading to a complex family dynamic.

After their divorce, Gloria remarried clothing manufacturer Jerry Moret, who legally adopted young Jim and formed a strong and loving bond with him.

Despite the divorce, Moret maintained relationships with both James and Jerry, referring to James as his father and Jerry as his Dad. He also holds a deep love for both his biological and stepfather.

Moret feels fortunate to have two loving fathers and acknowledges the emotional complicatedness that arose from his parent’s divorce.

Having experienced the challenging feelings and situations resulting from his parent’s separation, Moret’s personal and career choices were undeniably shaped by these experiences.

In his book “The Last Day of My Life,” particularly in the fourth chapter, “Forgiveness,” he disclosed his feelings of pain, abandonment, and estrangement from his father, James Darren.

Moret openly discussed his and his father’s regrets regarding the adoption, revealing underlying unresolved feelings regarding their relationship.

He highlighted James Darren’s wish to change one thing in his life – the decision to allow his son to be adopted – shedding light on the enduring impact of their separation on their familial bonds.

In case You Didn’t Know

• James William Moret is the chief correspondent for the syndicated television news magazine Inside Edition.
• He lives with his wife, Keri, and their three children in Los Angeles.
• He earned his law degree from the Southwestern University School of Law in 1981.