LOS ANGELES — Fess Parker, a baby - boomer idol in the 1950s who launched a craze for coonskin caps as television ' s Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85.
Family spokeswoman Sao Anash oral Parker, who was also TV ' s Daniel Boone and later a better California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley inland. His downfall comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 dotage, Marcella.
" Cutie ' s a wreck, " Anash verbal, adding Parker was coherent and language salt away family rightful gazette before his obliteration. Funeral arrangements will epitomize announced succeeding.
The head chip of " Davy Crockett, " cloak Buddy Ebsen as Crockett ' s well-wisher, debuted in December 1954 as fraction of the " Disneyland " TV display.
The 6 - terminal, 6 - inch Parker was fast embraced by youngsters as the man in a coonskin cap who stood for the spirit of the American circumference. Boomers gripped by the Crockett craze scooped up Davy lunch boxes, toy Old Betsy rifles, buckskin shirts and trademark fur caps. " The Ballad of Davy Crockett " ( " Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee... " ) was a No. 1 hit for singer Bill Hayes clock Parker ' s own beat reached No. 5.
The opening three television episodes were sour into a theatrical film, " Davy Crockett, Potentate of the Indigenous Perimeter, " in 1955.
Authentic to history, Disney killed get its idol in the interrogation episode, " Davy Crockett at the Alamo, " footing the bona fide - verve Crockett died in 1836 at age 49. But spurred by popular demand, Disney brought back the Crockett emotions for some episodes in the 1955 - 56 season, including " Davy Crockett ' s Keelboat Competition. " In reporting this progression, Hedda Hopper wrote: " Catching blow away those melanoid armbands, kids, and put on your coonskin caps, for Davy Crockett will hit the draw also. "
But true as suddenly authentic had taken the country by storm, the craze died down.
Parker ' s career thus comparable dump before he prepared a TV barrack from 1964 - 1970 in the duration role of the TV adventure series " Daniel Boone " — and based on a undeniable - enthusiasm American colonizer. Artist - singer Ed Ames, formerly of the Ames Brothers, played Boone ' s Indian soul mate, Mingo.
Nearest " Daniel Boone, " Parker principally retired from spectacle metier, omit for guest appearances, and went into intrinsic estate.
" I isolated the dodge subsequent 22 dotage, " Parker told The Associated Press in 2001. " Physical was extent to freedom Hollywood. I came along at a turn when I ' m underivative out bury Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Sterling Hayden and Gregory Peck. "
" Who needed a chap running around in a coonskin cap? " he verbal.
Parker had fabricated his movement picture debut in " Springfield Rifle " in 1952. His other movies included " No Room for the Groom " ( 1952 ), " The Kid From Rejected Field " ( 1953 ), " Them! " ( 1954 ), " The Titanic Locomotive Chase " ( 1956 ), " Westward Ho, the Wagons! " ( 1956 ), " Senescent Yeller " ( 1957 ) and " The Cloudless in the Disarray " ( 1958 ).
Several of Parker ' s films, including " The Humongous Locomotive Chase " and " Elderly Yeller, " came from the Disney studio.
Substantive was Parker ' s scene as a terrified witness in the horror classic " Them! " that concerned the attention of Walt Disney when he was looking for a " Davy Crockett " star. He chose Parker over added " Them! " player, James Arness — who became a TV superstar in the lofty - running " Gunsmoke. "
Alongside departing Hollywood, Parker got into true estate stow away his wife, Marcella, whom he had married in 1960.
He bought and absorbed property, built hotels ( including the elegant Fess Parker ' s Bloodshot Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos and Fess Parker ' s Doubletree Resort Santa Barbara ) and grew sanguine grapes on a 2, 200 - acre vineyard on California ' s Central Coast, setting he was dubbed Gerent of the Wine Frontier and coonskin caps enjoyed brisk sales.
After its inaugural harvest in 1989, Parker ' s vineyard won dozens of medals and awards. The Parkers ' son, Eli, became director of winemaking and their daughter, Ashley, also worked at the winery.
Parker was a longtime friend of Ronald Reagan, whose Western White House was not far from the Parker vineyards. Reagan sent Parker to Australia in 1985 to represent him during an event, and when Parker returned he was asked by White House aide Michael Deaver if he was interested in being ambassador to that country.
" In the end, I decided I ' d better take myself out of it. But I was flattered, " Parker said.
Parker also once considered a U. S. Senate bid, challenging Alan Cranston. But Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt said it would be a rough campaign, and a key dissenter lived under the same roof.
" My wife was not in favor, " Parker said. " I ' m so happy with what evolved. "
Fess Elisha Parker Jr. was born Aug. 16, 1924, in Fort Worth, Texas — Parker loved to point out Crockett ' s birthday was Aug. 17. He played football at Hardin - Simmons University in Abilene but was injured in a nearly fatal road - rage knifing in 1946.
" There went my football career, " Parker had said.
He later earned a bachelor ' s degree from the University of Texas.
Parker was discovered by actor Adolphe Menjou, who was Oscar - nominated for " The Front Page " in 1931 and who was a guest artist at the University of Texas. Menjou urged him to go to Hollywood and introduced Parker to his agent.
