Daren Kagasoff is an American actor best known for his role as Ricky Underwood on the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which aired from 2008 to 2013.
He is the middle child in a Jewish family, with an older brother and a younger sister.
Kagasoff graduated from Montclair Preparatory High School and attended San Francisco State University, where he initially studied business management before pursuing acting.
His career took off when he was cast in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which tackled complex themes such as teenage pregnancy.
Siblings
Daren is the middle child in his family, with an older brother named Justin and a younger sister named Natalie.
While not much is publicly known about Justin, it’s clear that the two brothers share a close bond.
In interviews, Daren has shared that Natalie was particularly excited about his role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and would often visit him on set.
Career
Kagasoff’s breakout role came in 2008 when he was cast as Ricky Underwood in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
The show, which ran for five seasons, centered around the lives of teenagers dealing with complex issues such as teenage pregnancy and relationships.
Kagasoff’s portrayal of Ricky, a troubled teen with a difficult past, earned him critical acclaim and a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Summer TV Star: Male in 2009.
After the success of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Kagasoff continued to take on various acting projects.
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In 2014, he appeared in the horror film Ouija, directed by Stiles White.
Later that year, he joined the cast of the comedy-drama series Red Band Society, where he played a recurring role.
The show, which aired on Fox, followed the lives of teenagers living in a pediatric ward of a hospital.
In 2019, Kagasoff landed a lead role in the NBC drama series The Village, which explored the lives of residents in a close-knit community in Brooklyn.
The show, however, was canceled after one season.
More recently, in 2022, Kagasoff appeared in the film Devotion, a historical drama directed by J.D. Dillard.
The film, based on the book of the same name by Adam Makos, tells the story of two U.S. Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War.
Awards and accolades
Kagasoff has received several awards and nominations throughout his acting career, primarily for his role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
He won the Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Star: Male in 2009, recognizing his breakout performance as Ricky Underwood.
Kagasoff has also been nominated multiple times for the Teen Choice Awards in various categories, including Choice TV Breakout Star: Male in 2009, Choice TV Actor: Drama in 2010 and 2011, and Choice Summer TV Star: Male in 2010 and 2012.
These accolades highlight his impact on the teen drama genre and his ability to resonate with audiences.
Despite the show’s conclusion in 2013, Kagasoff’s performance remains a significant part of his legacy, contributing to his recognition in the entertainment industry.
