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 in ...

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 and '' The New Gidget'', 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'' his name is changed to Jeffrey Matthews, and in '' Gidget Gets Married'' 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 ...

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

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 ...

'' and ''

Gidget Goes to Rome ''Gidget Goes to Rome'' is a 1963 Columbia Pictures Eastmancolor romantic comedy 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 ...

'', Moondoggie is portrayed by James Darren, the only character to be played by the same actor in all three films. In the sitcom '' Gidget'', he is portrayed by Stephen Mines; in '' Gidget Grows Up'' by

Paul Petersen Paul Petersen (born September 23, 1945) is an American actor, singer, novelist and activist. He rose to prominence in the 1950s playing Jeff Stone on '' The Donna Reed Show''. Petersen pursued a singing career in the 1960s. In the 1980s and 1 ...

, in '' Gidget Gets Married'' 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 Bru ...

'' and '' The New Gidget'' 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 '' Gidget Gets Married'', ''

'' and '' The New Gidget''.

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