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It was during a screening of this film that Walt Disney looked past Arness and discovered Parker. Disney was impressed by Parker's portrayal of a man who was unswerving in his belief in what he saw despite the forces of authority against him. Parker was asked to drop by the Disney Studio. When he did, he brought his guitar, met Walt, sang a song, and then said his goodbye. A couple of weeks later he was told that he had been selected over Arness and several other actors considered for the role, including [[Buddy Ebsen]] who eventually played Crockett's friend, George Russell.<ref name=crockett/>
It was during a screening of this film that Walt Disney looked past Arness and discovered Parker. Disney was impressed by Parker's portrayal of a man who was unswerving in his belief in what he saw despite the forces of authority against him. Parker was asked to drop by the Disney Studio. When he did, he brought his guitar, met Walt, sang a song, and then said his goodbye. A couple of weeks later he was told that he had been selected over Arness and several other actors considered for the role, including [[Buddy Ebsen]] who eventually played Crockett's friend, George Russell.<ref name=crockett/>


Disney's portrayal of Crockett in three episodes depicted his exploits as frontiersman, congressman, and tragic hero of the Alamo, in what has been called the first television [[miniseries]] though the term had not yet been coined. ''[[Davy Crockett (TV miniseries)|Davy Crockett]]'' was a tremendous hit with children, and led to a merchandising frenzy for coonskin caps and all things Crockett.<ref name=crockett/>
Disney's portrayal of Crockett in three episodes depicted his exploits as frontiersman, congressman, and tragic hero of the Alamo, in what has been called the first television [[miniseries]] though the term had not yet been coined. ''[[Davy Crockett (TV miniseries)|Davy Crockett]]'' was a tremendous hit with children, and led to a merchandising frenzy for coonskin caps and all things Crockett.<ref name=crockett/> It is a little-known irony that Fess Parker was terribly allergic to his buckskin costumes, and had to be slathered in salve just to wear them.


Parker became a contract star for Disney appearing in many films such as ''[[The Great Locomotive Chase]]'', ''[[Old Yeller (1957 film)|Old Yeller]]'', and ''[[Westward Ho, The Wagons!]]'' but complained they were all pretty much the same role. Disney refused to loan out Parker for roles outside of that persona, such as ''[[The Searchers (film)|The Searchers]]'' and ''[[Bus Stop (film)|Bus Stop]]''.<ref>Fess Parker Interview ''Playset Magazine'' #34</ref>
Parker became a contract star for Disney appearing in many films such as ''[[The Great Locomotive Chase]]'', ''[[Old Yeller (1957 film)|Old Yeller]]'', and ''[[Westward Ho, The Wagons!]]'' but complained they were all pretty much the same role. Disney refused to loan out Parker for roles outside of that persona, such as ''[[The Searchers (film)|The Searchers]]'' and ''[[Bus Stop (film)|Bus Stop]]''.<ref>Fess Parker Interview ''Playset Magazine'' #34</ref>

Revision as of 15:40, 19 March 2010

Fess Parker played a pilot of a private plane who observed the giant ants in the 1954 Science Fiction Movie "Them"

Fess Parker
Parker in 1985
Born
Fess Elisha Parker, Jr.
OccupationRetired Actor/ Winemaker
Years active1950–1974
Spouse
Marcella Belle Rinehart
​
​
(m. 1960⁠–⁠2010)​
Websitehttp://www.fessparker.com/

Fess Elisha Parker, Jr. (August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010)[1] was an American film and television actor best known for his 1950s portrayals of Davy Crockett for Walt Disney and his late 1960s portrayals of Daniel Boone.[2] He was also known as a wine maker and resort owner-operator.

Early years

Parker was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up on a small farm outside San Angelo.[3] He served in the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of World War II. He joined to become a pilot, but was turned down for being too tall at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) to fill such a position.

After being discharged, he was stabbed in the chin by a drunken driver during a post-collision argument. Parker required many months of rehabilitation, and was unable to participate in sports to the extent he desired.

Parker graduated from the University of Texas on the G.I. Bill in 1950 with a history degree. Still having a year left on his G.I. Bill he then moved to California, where he studied drama at the University of Southern California seeking a master's degree in theater history. However minor acting jobs soon obstructed that objective.[1][4]

Career

Parker began his show-business career by summer 1951 when he had a $32-a-week job as an extra in the play Mister Roberts, [4] although he is credited with the voice of Leslie, the chauffeur, in the 1950 film Harvey.[5] Within months, he was on location with a minor part in Untamed Frontier with Joseph Cotten and Shelley Winters. [6]

Parker became a contract player with Warner Brothers appearing in small roles in several films such as Springfield Rifle (1952), Island in the Sky, The Bounty Hunter and Battle Cry. In 1954, he appeared as Grat Dalton in the Jim Davis western anthology Stories of the Century in the episode The Dalton Brothers.

Davy Crockett

There is an interesting story from Parker himself. When the Walt Disney Company was looking for an actor to play Davy Crockett, they originally considered James Arness for the title role. Parker had recently graduated to a contract weekly actor, but listened to his agent, so he appeared instead in a B movie called Them!, that required only one day's work. He had a small scene in the movie, that of a pilot put into an insane asylum after claiming his plane had been downed by giant flying insects. Arness appeared in a larger role in the same film.[7]

It was during a screening of this film that Walt Disney looked past Arness and discovered Parker. Disney was impressed by Parker's portrayal of a man who was unswerving in his belief in what he saw despite the forces of authority against him. Parker was asked to drop by the Disney Studio. When he did, he brought his guitar, met Walt, sang a song, and then said his goodbye. A couple of weeks later he was told that he had been selected over Arness and several other actors considered for the role, including Buddy Ebsen who eventually played Crockett's friend, George Russell.[7]

Disney's portrayal of Crockett in three episodes depicted his exploits as frontiersman, congressman, and tragic hero of the Alamo, in what has been called the first television miniseries though the term had not yet been coined. Davy Crockett was a tremendous hit with children, and led to a merchandising frenzy for coonskin caps and all things Crockett.[7] It is a little-known irony that Fess Parker was terribly allergic to his buckskin costumes, and had to be slathered in salve just to wear them.

Parker became a contract star for Disney appearing in many films such as The Great Locomotive Chase, Old Yeller, and Westward Ho, The Wagons! but complained they were all pretty much the same role. Disney refused to loan out Parker for roles outside of that persona, such as The Searchers and Bus Stop.[8]

Parker made guest appearances on many television programs; and composed and sang music. He performed the occasional role of Tom Conrad, editor of the Diablo Courier in the syndicated western series, Annie Oakley (1954-1957), starring Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, and Jimmy Hawkins.[9] In 1962, he starred in the title role of the TV series Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Parker took to the stage in 1963, in a traveling production of "Oklahoma!" as 'Curly'. The movie roles he sought were elusive.[7]

Daniel Boone

Parker's Daniel Boone television series portraying another historic figure of America's frontier days began filming in 1964. Over its six years (1964 to 1970) as one of the highest rated shows of its time, Parker was not only the star of the series but also the co-producer and director of five of its most popular episodes.[10]

Turning down the title role of McCloud, Parker retired from the film industry in the 1970s, after a short-lived 1974 sitcom, The Fess Parker Show.

Awards

Fess Parker was nominated for best new personality Emmy in 1954, but lost to George Gobel. The "Daniel Boone," TV series was never nominated for the Emmys. [11]

In 2003, Parker received the Texas Cultural Trust's, "Texas Medal of Arts Award", established only the year before.[12][13]

For his work with Disney, Parker was honored in December 2004 with his own tribute window on a facade in the Frontierland section of Disneyland.[14]

Fess Parker Winery

The Fess Parker Winery in Los Olivos, California.

After his acting career, Parker devoted much of his time to operating his Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.[15] The winery is owned and operated by Parker's family, and has produced several different types of award-winning wines. Parkers’ son, Eli is President and Director of Winemaking & Vineyard Operations while daughter, Ashley, is Vice President of Marketing & Sales.[15]

The Parker operation includes over 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of vineyards, and a tasting room and visitor center along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. In addition to wine, the winery is known for selling coon skin caps and bottle toppers, inspired by Parker's Crockett and Boone characters, and for appearing in the movie Sideways.

In a reminiscence of his acting days, Parkers' wine labels have a logo of a golden coonskin cap.[16]

Personal life

Parker married Marcella Belle Rinehart on January 18, 1960. They had two children — Fess Elisha III and Ashley Allen Rinehart — along with 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson.[10]

Death

Parker died at age 85, of natural causes according to a spokesperson, at his home in Santa Ynez, California, near the Fess Parker Winery on March 18, 2010.[1] His death came on the 84th birthday of his wife.[17]

Filmography

The handprints of Fess Parker in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.

Television

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Dan Whitcomb (March 18, 2010) “ "Davy Crockett" Star Fess Parker Dies at 85” ABC News Accessed March 18, 2010
  2. ^ Obituary London Guardian, March 19, 2010.
  3. ^ “Disney Legends Award: Fess Parker-1991” Disney.com
  4. ^ a b Dennis McLellan (March 18, 2010) “Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on TV, dies at 85” Los Angeles Times, Accessed March 18, 2010
  5. ^ "Full cast and crew for 'Harvey' (1950)" imdb, Accessed March 19, 2010
  6. ^ "Full cast and crew for 'Untamed Frontier' " imdb Accessed March 18, 2010
  7. ^ a b c d Richard Severo (March 19, 2010) "Fess Parker, Who as Davy Crockett Set Off Coonskin Cap Craze, Dies at 85", New York Times Accessed March 19, 2010
  8. ^ Fess Parker Interview Playset Magazine #34
  9. ^ "Annie Oakley". tvacres.com. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  10. ^ a b Official Website Biography Page Accessed March 18, 2010
  11. ^ Tom O'Neil (March 18, 2010) "Fess Parker had that cool coonskin cap -- who needs an Emmy?" , Los Angeles Times, Accessed March 19, 2010
  12. ^ Associated Press (7 February 2003). "Talented Texans to be Honored". The Houston Chronicle. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  13. ^ (March 18, 2003) "2003 Texas Medal of Arts Award Winners to Be Celebrated Tuesday, March 25" PRNewswire, Accessed March 19, 2010
  14. ^ Heather Hust Rivera (December 18th, 2009) "Did You Miss It? Davy Crockett’s Window in Frontierland" Disney Accessed March 18, 2010
  15. ^ a b Official Fess Parker Website fessparker.com
  16. ^ Eric Lindberg (March 18, 2010) "Fess Parker, famed actor and hotelier, dies at 85" , The Daily Sound, Accessed March 19, 2010
  17. ^ Orange County Register, Fess Parker dies – played Davy Crockett
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