Fess Parker dies at 85, The Legend lives on
Fess Parker was a maverick. Even at the age of 85 he had the zeal of a child. At his age he was a successful business-man mixing wine-making and real estate business with elan. But, he is no more. Fess Parker, died at the age of 85 on March 18 at his home near Santa Barbara, Calif.
Parker became famous for his Television character of Davy Crockett, a rugged frontiersman through out the 1950’s. His coonskin caps and toy rifles were so popular that it became a rage. Later in his career he also starred as Daniel Boone in another TV drama. However, the reason behind his death has not been ascertained yet.
First it was Walt Disney who could construe up the character of Davy Crockett and then they had the 6-foot-6 Parker play the title role. It was a series of three one-hour episodes which was shown on ABC's "Disneyland" in the late 1954 and early 1955. It was a story wherein Crockett (Fess Parker) and his ally (Buddy Ebsen), went down stream of rivers entered dark woods then fought against the Indians. This program was a huge hit, popularizing the coonskin caps, buckskin outfits, moccasins, guitars, lunch pails and "Old Betsy" rifles. In fact a raccoon fur used to cost $8 a pound. The character of Davy Crockett was so popular that, Mr. Parker used to be surrounded by thousands and thousands of fans trying to have a glimpse of the star.
"I will immodestly tell you," Mr. Parker told the Los Angeles Times in 2002, "it was bigger than anything, ever, including the Beatles and Elvis."
Meanwhile, its theme song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," was a huge hit being the No.1 pop song for at least three months. Even Disney was surprised by the success of the show.
"By the time the first show finally got on the air, we were already shooting the third one and calmly killing Davy off at the Alamo," said Walt Disney, quoted in Leonard Maltin's "The Disney Films." "It became one of the biggest overnight hits in TV history, and there we were with just three films and a dead hero."
The serial was also changed into a movie in 1955 titled, "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier". What’s more two separate new episodes were also shot and a new film was made in 1956 which was titled "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates."
During his time as Davy Crockett he was hugely popular and afterwards, Mr. Parker also acted in Disney family drama "Old Yeller" in 1957 and on ABC TV a show named "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Woodsman Daniel Boone is another adventurous character played by Mr. Parker in 1964. This series was shown on the NBC and went on for 6 years.
After, "Daniel Boone” barring some TV appearances here and there Mr. Parker retired from acting this time focusing on to business.
"Who needed a guy running around in a coonskin cap?" he said.
Fess Elisha Parker Jr. was born on August 16th 1924, in Fort Worth. However, he had his growing up years in San Angelo, Texas. Mr. Parker also served in the Navy but he met an unfortunate accident when he was stabbed in the neck by a motorist in 1946 ending his dream to play college football. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1950. He once met veteran actor Adolphe Menjou there, and from there on an affiliation for Hollywood grew in Mr. Parker.
"That was the pivotal moment of my life," Mr. Parker recalled years later.
Mr. Parker used to act in small scale TV shows or sci-fi films. But, his tryst with destiny came up when he played the role of Davy Crockett. He was not allowed to do any other roles by Disney, making him fore-go a role in John Ford's 1956 classic "The Searchers" or in "Bus Stop" opposite Marilyn Monroe. The reason given was that his image of Davy Crockett would get affected by that.
After his film career Mr. Parker invested in real estate and ran into instant success getting large holdings in north California. However, priorities changed so he bought a ranch trying to raise cattle, but later, on persuasion from his son changed it into a vineyard. His label of wines had a coonskin cap on the bottle.
He also had a tasting room adjoining the vineyard. This was different from the other normal ones as one could socialize, chat and what’s more Mr. Parker used to sign autographs. Well, he was survived by his 50 year old singer wife, Marcella Rinehart Parker; two children; 11 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
It is said that the character of Davy Crockett was always there in his heart and he talked about it in his last days.
"Had I played Hamlet and starred in a number of Broadway shows or motion pictures as a very versatile actor," he said in 1994, "I wouldn't have had the identity, recognition and, most importantly, the welcome I've been accorded by most of the homes of viewers."
