Moondoggie is a fictional character created by

Frederick Kohner Friedrich Kohner (September 25, 1905 – July 7, 1986), credited professionally as Frederick Kohner, was an Austrian-born novelist and screenwriter, both in Germany and the U.S.. He is best known for having created the "Gidget" novels, which ins ...

in his 1957 novel '' Gidget, The Little Girl with Big Ideas''.''Gidget'' (2001) by Frederick Kohner, Berkley Publishing Group, New York, NY (first edition 1957) He appears as a principal character in five of the eight Gidget novels, but is a minor character or is only mentioned in passing in '' Cher Papa'', '' The Affairs of Gidget'' and '' Gidget Goes Parisienne''.

History

He is portrayed as a surfer who saves Gidget from drowning and later becomes romantically involved with her. In the novels, two of the

television movies Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, e ...

and ''

The New Gidget ''The New Gidget'' is an American sitcom sequel to the original 1965–66 sitcom ''Gidget''. It aired in syndication from September 15, 1986, to May 12, 1988. The series was produced by original ''Gidget'' series producer Harry Ackerman and was la ...

'', his real name is Geoffrey H. Griffin (the middle initial is mentioned only in the first novel), but in the three ''Gidget'' motion pictures and the 1960s sitcom ''

Gidget Gidget () is a fictional character created by author Frederick Kohner (based on his teenaged daughter, Kathy) in his 1957 novel, ''Gidget, the Little Girl with Big Ideas''. The novel follows the adventures of a teenaged girl and her surfing fri ...

'' his name is changed to Jeffrey Matthews, and in ''

Gidget Gets Married ''Gidget Gets Married'' is a 1972 American made-for television comedy film produced by Screen Gems for ABC. It was written by John McGreevey, directed by E.W. Swackhamer and starred Monie Ellis as Gidget. Plot Now that Jeff has completed his ...

'' his name is Jeff Stevens. In the

novelization A novelization (or novelisation) is a derivative novel that adapts the story of a work created for another medium, such as a film, TV series, stage play, comic book or video game. Film novelizations were particularly popular before the advent of ...

''Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' we learn that his nickname refers to his fondness for surfing by moonlight. In the three motion pictures ''

'', ''

Gidget Goes Hawaiian ''Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' is a 1961 American romantic comedy musical film starring James Darren, Michael Callan and Deborah Walley. Released by Columbia Pictures, the film is a sequel to the 1959 Sandra Dee beach film vehicle ''Gidget''. Dee was ...

'' and ''

Gidget Goes to Rome ''Gidget Goes to Rome'' is a 1963 Columbia Pictures Eastmancolor feature film starring Cindy Carol as the archetypal high school teen surfer girl originally portrayed by Sandra Dee in the 1959 film ''Gidget''. The film is the third of three Gidg ...

'', Moondoggie is portrayed by

James Darren James William Ercolani (born June 8, 1936) known by his stage name James Darren, is an American television and film actor, television director, and singer. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had notable starring and supporting roles in fi ...

, the only character to be played by the same actor in all three films. In the sitcom ''

'', he is portrayed by Stephen Mines; in ''

Gidget Grows Up ''Gidget Grows Up'' is a 1969 American made-for-television comedy film directed by James Sheldon with stars Karen Valentine, Edward Mulhare and Paul Petersen as well as alphabetically listed special guest stars Warner Anderson, Bob Cummings, Nina ...

'' by

Paul Petersen William Paul Petersen (born September 23, 1945) is an American actor, singer, novelist, and activist. Petersen first rose to prominence in the 1950s playing Jeff Stone on ''The Donna Reed Show'', and transitioned to a singing career in the 19 ...

, in ''

'' by Michael Burns, and in ''

Gidget's Summer Reunion ''Gidget's Summer Reunion'' is a 1985 American made-for-television adventure comedy-drama film produced by Columbia Pictures Television that aired in syndication on June 1, 1985. It was written by Robert Blees and George Zateslo, directed by Br ...

'' and ''

'' by Dean Butler. At the end of the last ''Gidget'' novel, ''Gidget Goes New York'', Moondoggie and Gidget are married.''Gidget Goes New York''(1968) by Frederick Kohner, Dell Books, New York, NY They are also portrayed as married in ''

'', ''

'' and ''

''.

Notes

Characters in American novels of the 20th century Fictional surfers Gidget Comedy film characters Sitcom characters Male characters in film Male characters in literature Male characters in television {{novel-char-stub