Fess Parker Dies Aged 85

Fess Parker, best known for his roles playing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone has died at the age of 85.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of World War II, he started his career in the play Mister Roberts in 1951.

After signing with Disney and appearing in a number of small roles, Parker was thrust into the spotlight when in 1954 when he was personally picked by Walt Disney to play the role of Davy Crockett in a miniseries shown between 1954-1955.

After his success as Crockett, Parker became a star for Disney appearing in a range of films such as The Great Locomotive Chase, Old Yeller, and Westward Ho, The Wagons!

In the 1960’s he returned to television, reprising his talent of playing American frontier figures in the NBC series Daniel Boone from 1964 to 1970.

After a short term stint in the sitcom The Fess Parker Show in 1974, Parker retired from showbiz. In later years, he established and ran the successful Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.

Fess Parker is survived by his wife, two children, 11 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.