Fess Parker, TV’s ‘Davy Crockett,’ dies at 85

LOS ANGELES (AP) – 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 said Parker, who was also TV’s Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. His death came on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

"She’s a wreck," Anash said, adding Parker was coherent and speaking with family just minutes before his death. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

The first installment of "Davy Crockett," with Buddy Ebsen as Crockett’s sidekick, debuted in December 1954 as part of the "Disneyland" TV show.

The 6-foot, 6-inch Parker was quickly embraced by youngsters as the man in a coonskin cap who stood for the spirit of the American frontier. 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 while Parker’s own version reached No. 5.

The first three television episodes were turned into a theatrical film, "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier," in 1955.

True to history, Disney killed off its hero in the third episode, "Davy Crockett at the Alamo," where the real-life Crockett died in 1836 at age 49. But spurred by popular demand, Disney brought back the Crockett character for some episodes in the 1955-56 season, including "Davy Crockett’s Keelboat Race."

"Like many kids growing up in the 50’s, Davy Crockett was my first hero, and I had the coonskin cap to prove it," said Disney CEO Bob Iger. "Fess Parker’s unforgettable, exciting and admirable performance as this American icon has remained with me all these years, as it has for his millions of fans around the world. Fess is truly a Disney Legend, as is the heroic character he portrayed, and while he will certainly be missed, he will never be forgotten."

Parker’s career leveled off when the Crockett craze died down, but he made a TV comeback from 1964-1970 in the title role of the TV adventure series "Daniel Boone" – also based on a real-life American frontiersman. Actor-singer Ed Ames, formerly of the Ames Brothers, played Boone’s Indian friend, Mingo.

After "Daniel Boone," Parker largely retired from show business, except for guest appearances, and went into real estate.

"I left the business after 22 years," Parker told The Associated Press in 2001. "It was time to leave Hollywood. I came along at a time when I’m starting out with Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Sterling Hayden and Gregory Peck."

"Who needed a guy running around in a coonskin cap?" he said.

Parker had made his motion picture debut in "Springfield Rifle" in 1952. His other movies included "No Room for the Groom" (1952), "The Kid From Left Field" (1953), "Them!" (1954), "The Great Locomotive Chase" (1956), "Westward Ho, the Wagons!" (1956), "Old Yeller" (1957) and "The Light in the Forest" (1958).

Several of Parker’s films, including "The Great Locomotive Chase" and "Old Yeller," came from the Disney studio.

It was Parker’s scene as a terrified witness in the horror classic "Them!" that caught the attention of Walt Disney when he was looking for a "Davy Crockett" star. He chose Parker over another "Them!" actor, James Arness – who became a TV superstar in the long-running "Gunsmoke."

After departing Hollywood, Parker got into real estate with his wife, Marcella, whom he had married in 1960.

He bought and sold property, built hotels (including the elegant Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos and Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort Santa Barbara) and grew wine grapes on a 2,200-acre vineyard on California’s Central Coast, where he was dubbed King 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.

Also, please find below a quote from Robert A. Iger, President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, as well as a few photos for use courtesy of The Walt Disney Company.

When I was seven, every Wednesday after school, I would rush to finish baseball practice, run to the bus in my mud-soaked uniform, glove in hand, to make sure I got home by 5:30pm, where I would plant myself with a TV tray in front of the black and white RCA, tuning out my mother?s admonitions not to sit on the furniture in my dirty pants. Then at 6:00pm, as I mindlessly wolfed down my dinner, I became absorbed into the world of my hero. This was really the beginning of the inspiration for what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. He was tall, strong, handsome, and courageous. He always knew right from wrong, stood up in the face of evil, and lived his life by an unwavering code of honor. He was a master of trading and politics yet was always on the side of the underdog. My bedroom became a museum to him and others like him. I plastered posters and memorabilia everywhere. I lived his life, dreamt his life, and longed to be like him in every way. To me, he was all the great things that embodied the word "American." It was the first time I had ever heard of a code of conduct rules by which to live your life!! I was blown away and it was indelibly etched in my brain from age seven until I matured into a businessman by happenstance. Time passed and many heroes faded over the decades some even morphed into villains. Life became more complicated and heroes and codes of conduct started to blur into things that only little kids entertained in the 60s. Then one day, a decade ago in Santa Barbara, a friend of mine told me that he had somebody he wanted me to meet who was one of the smartest and most shrewd businessmen that he had ever known. I said great, thinking it must be Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, or Ty Warner, whom I knew all frequented Santa Barbara and all of whom were legends in their own time. He said "No, just show up." I said, "This better be good!" It was a beautiful sunny day along the Pacific Coast. I walked into the Red Lion Inn, which was clean and bright with its banquets and booths. Since I was early I just sat at the first clear table that I found, ordered a cup of coffee and started to read the paper. As I perused the left column of the Wall St. Journal, I could faintly hear the voices at the booth behind me. For some reason, one of the voices caused a chill straight up my spine that caught me cold. This was a voice from my past, a voice of dreams, a voice that I could never forget. I stood up from my table and walked around the partition where I spied my friend sitting and sipping coffee with the man who had been my hero as a child. There he sat in real life, one of the smartest, most astute, successful businessmen in California. Yes, he was there in the flesh. It was none other than Davy CrockettFess Parker. I stopped stunned and speechlesswhich for me is really unusual. Fess looked up sporting a gigantic grin, put forward his vice-like hand, lifted his 6ft. 5in. frame and said "Hi Tom, I?m Fess." The voice, the man, the smile, the eyes he was actually sitting right before me. After an hour at breakfast I learned that the man was even greater than the legend and it was no wonder he was a hero at everything that he did. 2 ! Now, as I look at the state of affairs today I long for the simplicity of living life by watching my heroes save the day – by thinking and believing that there is actually a "code of conduct." As I have thought through it, I realize that my heroes have always been cowboys. I have outlined below a few of my hero cowboys? codes of conduct. I promise they are worth reading. GENE AUTRY’S COWBOY CODE OF HONOR 1. A cowboy never takes unfair advantage – even of an enemy. 2. A cowboy never betrays a trust. He never goes back on his word. 3. A cowboy always tells the truth. 4. A cowboy is kind and gentle to small children, old folks, and animals. 5. A cowboy is free from racial and religious intolerances. 6. A cowboy is always helpful when someone is in trouble. 7. A cowboy is always a good worker. 8. A cowboy respects womanhood, his parents and his nation’s laws. 9. A cowbo
y is clean about his person in thought, word, and deed. 10. A cowboy is a patriot. HOPALONG CASSIDY’S CREED FOR AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS 1. The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be mindful at all times. 2. Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions. 3. If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way. 4. Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don’t be lazy. 5. Your good deeds always come to light. So don’t boast or be a show off. 6. If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways. 7. Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be friendly and kind to them. 8. A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean. 9. Our country’s laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully. 10. Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you. Be glad and proud you are an American THE LONE RANGER CREED I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world. That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has. That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number. That sooner or later…somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken. That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever. I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man. 3 ! Conclusion Today we need a new "King of the Wild Frontier" or a sequel to the "Lone Ranger Champion of Justice." Even though coonskin caps are out of vogue and masked men today are usually not good guys, what was right then is still right t
oday. Davy?s motto of "Be sure you are rightand then go ahead" is timeless. Life was so simple Good, courageous men and women doing good things with integrity, honesty and a sense of humor. I long for those days at the TV tray awaiting my call to duty not from Gordon Gekko or any other master of the universe, but from kemosabe as he reared back on his pure white steed chanting "Hi-yo, Silver, Away!" My heroes have always been cowboys!! Click Here