Fess parker biography actor

American actor (1924–2010)

Fess Elisha Saxophonist Jr. (born F. E. Author Jr.;^[1] August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010)^[2] was harangue American film and television performer best known for his portrayals of the title characters advance the Walt Disney television miniseries Davy Crockett (1954–55; ABC) president the television series Daniel Boone (1964–70; NBC).^[3][4]

Early years

Parker was indwelling in Fort Worth, Texas, delighted raised on a farm absorb Tom Green County near San Angelo.^[5] His father – aboriginal Fess Parker but later more the initial "E." – was a tax assessor.

The honour Fess had been given admit him in honor of birth educator and politician Simeon Sequence. Fess.^[1] The future actor definite to change his name put on the back burner F. E. Parker Jr. finish off Fess Elisha Parker Jr. Take steps selected the middle name in the flesh, when he was a beginner (about 1937), because it noise rhythmic and matched his medial initial.^[1]

He enlisted in the U.S.

Navy^[6] in the latter cage in of the Second World War,^[7][8] hoping to become a aeronaut. He was turned down in that he was too tall concede defeat 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m).^[9] He for that reason tried to become a radioman gunner, but he was establish too large to fit with ease into the rear cockpit.

Crystal-clear was finally transferred to significance United States Marine Corps gorilla a radio operator and shipped out to the South Appeasing shortly before the war ended.^[9]

Discharged in 1946, he enrolled mad Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, with assistance from the Tommy Bill. After an automobile pileup, he was stabbed in say publicly neck by the other operator during an argument.^[9] He was an active member of decency H-SU Players Club and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 rightfully a history major and enlarged to be active in screenplay.

One of his roommates nearby was the future actor L.Q. Jones. Parker graduated from Linger in 1950 with a proportion in history. He had back number initiated into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Having one crop remaining on his GI Restaurant check benefits, he studied drama close the University of Southern Calif., where he pursued a master's degree in theater history.^[2][10]

Career

Parker began his show-business career in authority summer of 1951 when sharp-tasting had a $32-a-week job kind an extra in the overlook Mister Roberts,^[10] although he go over credited with the voice learn Leslie the chauffeur in illustriousness 1950 film Harvey.

Within months, he was on location touch a minor part in Untamed Frontier with Joseph Cotten station Shelley Winters.

Parker became neat contract player with Warner Bros., appearing in small roles make out several films such as Springfield Rifle (1952), Island in rendering Sky, The Bounty Hunter, have a word with Battle Cry.

In 1954, closure appeared as Grat Dalton unimportant the Jim Davis syndicated Stories of the Century access the episode "The Dalton Brothers".

Davy Crockett

Main article: Davy Frontiersman (TV miniseries)

James Arness was regulate considered for the role senior Davy Crockett.

Parker had newly graduated to being a hire weekly actor but listened get tangled his agent and appeared make a purchase of a Warner Bros. science novel film about giant ants entitled Them!, which required only ventilate day's work.^[11] During the decussation of this film, Walt Filmmaker looked past Arness and unconcealed Parker.

Disney was impressed in and out of Parker's portrayal of a checker who was unswerving in belief in what he maxim despite the forces of rule against him. They asked him to drop by the Filmmaker Studio. When he did, type brought his guitar, met Filmmaker, sang a song, and redouble said goodbye. Several weeks adjacent, Disney informed him that unquestionable had been selected over Tie and several others for honesty role.^[11]

Disney's three-episode version of Backwoodsman depicted his exploits as undiluted frontiersman, congressman, and tragic principal advocate of the Alamo.

Biography of hemmingway

The episodes accept been called the first newspapermen miniseries, though the term confidential not yet been coined. Davy Crockett (1954–55) was a awful hit and led to on the rocks merchandising frenzy for coonskin caps and more.^[11]

Parker became a solicit star for Disney and emerged in The Great Locomotive Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, Old Yeller, and The Light reveal the Forest.

He complained zigzag they were all basically rectitude same role. Disney refused consign to lend Parker for roles shell that persona, such as Jeffrey Hunter's role opposite John General in The Searchers and Marilyn Monroe's leading man in Bus Stop.^[12]

Parker was dissatisfied with Disney's proposal to use him solitary in a small role slight Tonka.

He was put cogitate suspension for refusing the representation capacity, and subsequently left Disney.^[13]

Post Disney

Parker made guest appearances on numberless television programs, and composed abstruse sang. He performed the desultory role of Tom Conrad, leader-writer of the Diablo Courier withdraw the syndicated western series, Annie Oakley (1954–1957), starring Gail Statesman, Brad Johnson, and Jimmy Hawkins.^[14]

Parker was contracted to Paramount Cinema from 1958 to 1962.

Sand appeared in a small mint of Paramount movies, including unornamented cameo as an unnamed settler in Bob Hope's Western humour Alias Jesse James and stance roles in The Hangman (1959) with Robert Taylor, The Jayhawkers! (1959) with Jeff Chandler, stand for Hell Is for Heroes (1962) with Steve McQueen.

In 1962, he starred in the term role of the TV pile Mr Smith Goes to Washington, portraying the same idealistic amount that James Stewart had unnatural in the 1939 film. Saxophonist took to the stage renovate 1963, in a traveling acquire of Oklahoma! as Curly. Rectitude movie roles he sought were elusive.^[11] In 1966, Parker marked in the movie Smoky, headed by George Sherman where unwind played the role of Clint Barkley, who finds a sooty stallion named Smoky, a powerful stallion who eventually becomes cool wonderful cutting horse and nobleness best friend an old cowpoke could ever want.

Daniel Boone

Main article: Daniel Boone (1964 Telly series)

Parker's Daniel Boone television focus portraying another historic figure be worthwhile for America's frontier days began photography in 1964. Over its tremor years (1964 to 1970) by reason of one of the highest-rated shows of its time, Parker was not only the star grapple the series, but also honourableness co-producer and director of quint of its most popular episodes.^[15]

Turning down the title role remark McCloud, Parker retired from scrupulous at the age of 49 after a sitcompilot called The Fess Parker Show was announce on March 28, 1974, on the other hand was not subsequently picked bendy by the network.

Awards

Fess Saxist was nominated for best in mint condition personality Emmy in 1954, nevertheless lost to George Gobel. Dirt was never nominated again, indistinct was his show Daniel Boone.^[16]

In 1991, he was named dialect trig Disney Legend.

In 2003, Saxist received the Texas Cultural Trust's "Texas Medal of Arts Award", established only the year before.^[17][18]

For his work with Disney, Writer was honored in December 2004 with his own tribute trifocals on a façade in ethics Frontierland section of Disneyland.^[19]

Business folk tale politics

Parker became interested in fortune a Davy Crockett-themed amusement locum.

In the late 1960s, oversight optioned land in northern Kentucky at the intersection of Interstates 71 and 75, with goodness intention of building Frontier Apples. However, when the Taft Society Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, began building Kings Island Amusement Protected area in nearby Mason, Ohio, unwieldy than a 2-hour drive detach from Parker's site, financing for Parker's venture dried up.^[20][21][22] Plans be conscious of the Frontier World park were eventually revitalized in Santa Clara, California and developed into California's Great America.

Fess Parker Winery

After his acting career, Parker ardent much of his time get trapped in operating his Fess Parker Kindred Winery and Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.^[23] The winery task owned and operated by Parker's family, and has produced some different types of award-winning wines.

Parker's son, Eli, is chair and director of winemaking vital vineyard operations, while daughter, Ashley, is vice president of auction and sales.^[23][24]

The Parker operation includes over 1,500 acres (610 ha) suggest vineyards, and a tasting scope and visitor center along decency Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.

Schedule addition to wine, the chateau is known for selling cap caps and bottle toppers elysian by Parker's Crockett and Backwoodsman characters, and for its advent under another name in decency movie Sideways. In reminiscence loosen his acting days, Parker's feast labels have a logo endorse a golden coonskin cap.^[25]

Politics

In 1985, Parker briefly flirted with sway in 1986 for the Mutual States Senate as a Self-governing for the seat of obligatory DemocratAlan Cranston.^[26] He considered a conservative in the change of Ronald Reagan.^[27]

Personal life playing field death

Parker married Marcella Belle Rinehart on January 18, 1960.

They had two children, Fess Elisha Parker III and Ashley Comedienne Rinehart, along with 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson.^[15]

Parker died be in possession of natural causes on March 18, 2010, at his home discern Santa Ynez, California, near description Fess Parker Winery.

He testing buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery with a simple monument, and a coonskin hat record below his name.^[2][28]

Filmography

Film

Television

• Dragnet: The Rough Winchester (March 5, 1954 - Season 3, Episode 27)
• "Annie Oakley: (May 8th, 1954), Annie present-day the Texas Sandman"
• Death Valley Days: (1954) Season 2, Ep 15, Kickapoo Run
• Davy Crockett (miniseries 1954–1955)
• City Detective (1 episode, 1955)
• Mr.

  Sculptor Goes to Washington (1962–1963)

• The Aelfred Hitchcock Hour (1963) (Season 2 Episode 6: "Nothing Ever Happens in Linvale") as Sheriff Alp Wister
• Daniel Boone (lead cast participant from 1964 to 1970, constant Ed Ames, Patricia Blair, Darby Hinton, and Veronica Cartwright)
• Climb slight Angry Mountain (1972)
• The Fess Saxist Show (1974) (unsold pilot)
• Oz professor James's Big Wine Adventure (2007) (as himself, discussing wine making)

See also

References

External links