Vic Fontaine (James Darren, center) surrounded by a bevy of holographic beauties in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Photo copyright of Paramount Pictures.
In today's Sci-Fi Blast From The Past, legendary actor/singer James Darren talks about his "engagement" as Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
The character of Vic Fontaine makes his debut in the sixth-season Star Trek: Deep Space Nine story His Way. Doctor Bashir (Alexander Siddig) invites his colleagues to join him for the evening in his new holosuite program set in a 1960s Las Vegas nightclub owned by singer Vic Fontaine. After Vic’s act, Bashir introduces him to everyone and, without missing a beat, the singer tells each couple present a little about their relationship. He takes Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and Major Kira (Nana Visitor) by surprise when he assumes they are involved, but Odo has not yet told Kira how he feels about her. Later, Odo seeks Vic’s advice on how to begin a relationship with Kira. Much to his delight, Darren discovered that his character, like Vic’s tuxedo, was a perfect fit.
“Believe me, Vic was a fully developed adult from day one,” laughs the actor. “Everything I needed to know was already there in the script and all I had to do was say the words and sing the songs. I didn’t have to search for or create things that weren’t already provided for me. Usually as an actor you’ll find little quirks or flaws that your character can use, but Vic, boy, he was right there from the start. When an actor is given a character that’s so well-written and carefully drawn out it makes the job so much more enjoyable.
“His Way was certainly one of the best experiences of my entire career and I don’t say that lightly,” continues Darren. “When I came on the set that first day it was as if I had been doing the series for the past seven years. The cast was so accepting of me and quickly made me feel like part of the family, and the crew treated me the same way. They’re the sweetest people in the world. I’ve worked on hundreds of sets and there’s always someone or something that can rub you the wrong way. I can’t say there is one person on the set that I don’t really love, you know? Talk about an upbeat working environment, and that’s why it’s so sad that the program is ending this season.”
The actor returned to the series to guest-star in the sixth-season finale Tears of the Prophets, and then again for its seventh-season opener Image in the Sand in which Worf (Michael Dorn) tears apart Vic’s nightclub after Jadzia’s (Terry Farrell) death. Bashir records some of Vic’s songs to cheer up the men and women serving on the front lines against The Dominion in The Siege of AR-558. In the same story, Ensign Nog (Aron Eisenberg) is injured and loses his leg and Vic is the only person who can help him cope with his disability when he comes home to the station in It’s Only A Paper Moon.
“It was a pleasure to work with Aron in that episode,” says Darren. “He’s a wonderful actor and he gives so much of himself, which was also true of Rene and Nana in His Way. The scenes become so real because they bring such life to their characters. It’s scary, but everyone is so good that when you’re in front of the cameras it really feels as if what’s happening around you is more than just make-believe. People who are not in the acting business have asked me, ‘How do you not laugh when working with these guys with big heads and ears?’ I tell them, ‘I don’t see that. They’re Vic’s pals. He doesn’t see anything unusual about them. To him, they look like you or me.’ ”
Viewers need to watch closely to spot Darren’s fleeting appearance when the alternate universe Vic Fontaine is shot and killed in the mirror-image episode The Emperor’s New Cloak. He has much more to do in Badda-bing, Badda-bang when a Jack-in-the-box buried deep inside Vic’s holographic program suddenly turns itself on and transfers ownership of his nightclub to his childhood rival, mobster Frankie Eyes (Robert Miano). The Deep Space Nine crew bands together to pull off a daring heist that will discredit Frankie and win Vic back the club. At the end of the episode Vic and Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) take to the stage to celebrate the group’s victory.
“Avery’s so hip,” says Darren. “He’s a killer actor and terrific singer and he plays the piano like you wouldn’t believe. Avery’s a neat guy and singing that duet with him in that episode was such a blast. Every time I had something to do on Deep Space Nine, whether it was a single scene or a full episode about Vic, it was a treat. I was hungry for more to do on the series only because I loved it so much.”
Vic Fontaine ends his holosuite engagement on the station in the show’s finale What You Leave Behind, the filming of which Darren recalls as being quite emotional. “One moment I’ll remember forever is when I was singing Just The Way You Look Tonight to the cast in the scene. I got to Nana and when I sang the line to her, ‘And the laugh that wrinkles your nose,’ she started crying uncontrollably and had to sit on the floor. Of course, they didn’t use that take but for me it just said it all and summed up my experiences on the show.
“I started singing again because I knew Deep Space Nine would eventually come to an end and I wanted a way to keep Vic Fontaine, or at least what I’ve learned from the character, alive,” explains the actor. “I plan to do this by continuing to perform on stage in venues such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and I’m looking forward to that. However, I’m going to miss sharing Vic Fontaine with the DS9 cast members and having them share their characters with me. It truly was a blast.”
Steve Eramo
As noted above, photo copyright of Paramount Pictures, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
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