‘Davy Crockett’ Star Fess Parker Passed Away

By Sara Welsh on March 18th, 2010

Continuing in the horrible trend that seems to have taken hold lately, Fess Parker has passed away. Parker was 85 years old.

If you’re unfamiliar with the name Fess Parker, you may be familiar with his most famous role- he played Davy Crockett in the widely popular Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. His portrayal of the character became legendary and started the trend of young boys wearing “coon-skinned” caps, wielding pop guns, and singing the theme song. His casting in the role was almost not meant to be though. Walt Disney was screening a sci-fi film called Them! starring James Arness. Arness was being considered for the part of Crockett, but Parker caught Disney’s eye despite his part being only that of a frightened man.

While the role of Davy Crockett may have boosted him to stardom, it was not his only role. Parker played in many western-themed movies before “Crockett”, including Springfield Rifle where he played alongside Lon Chaney, Untamed Frontier, and Thunder Over The Plains. He also won the role of a baseball player in The Kid From Left Field due to his stature (he stood six foot five inches tall) and had parts in the Annie Oakley television series.

Later in life, Parker made his money in real estate and his winery, owning the Doubletree resort along beachfront Santa Barbara, Calif., and the Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos, Calif.

Parker is survived by his wife Marcella, whom he married in 1960. They have two children together.