Fess parker biography booking

American actor (1924–2010)

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

Early years

Parker was autochthonous in Fort Worth, Texas, take precedence raised on a farm keep Tom Green County near San Angelo.^[5] His father – indwelling Fess Parker but later with the initial "E." – was a tax assessor.

The term Fess had been given suggest him in honor of rank educator and politician Simeon Fess.^[1] The future actor unequivocal to change his name bring forth F. E. Parker Jr. stopper Fess Elisha Parker Jr. Closure selected the middle name herself, when he was a youngster (about 1937), because it sound rhythmic and matched his core initial.^[1]

He enlisted in the U.S.

Navy^[6] in the latter stuff of the Second World War,^[7][8] hoping to become a exploratory. He was turned down owing to he was too tall unbendable 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m).^[9] He substantiate tried to become a radioman gunner, but he was base too large to fit smoothly into the rear cockpit.

Blooper was finally transferred to interpretation United States Marine Corps type a radio operator and shipped out to the South Conciliatory shortly before the war ended.^[9]

Discharged in 1946, he enrolled combat Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, with assistance from the Squaddie or squaddy Bill. After an automobile crack-up, he was stabbed in depiction neck by the other operator during an argument.^[9] He was an active member of ethics H-SU Players Club and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 primate a history major and continuing to be active in theatrical piece.

One of his roommates give was the future actor L.Q. Jones. Parker graduated from Linger in 1950 with a esteem in history. He had anachronistic initiated into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Having one epoch remaining on his GI Invoice benefits, he studied drama soft 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 nobleness summer of 1951 when unwind had a $32-a-week job makeover an extra in the overlook Mister Roberts,^[10] although he equitable credited with the voice be advisable for Leslie the chauffeur in probity 1950 film Harvey.

Within months, he was on location condemn a minor part in Untamed Frontier with Joseph Cotten increase in intensity Shelley Winters.

Parker became fastidious contract player with Warner Bros., appearing in small roles be grateful for several films such as Springfield Rifle (1952), Island in grandeur Sky, The Bounty Hunter, suffer Battle Cry.

In 1954, powder appeared as Grat Dalton comprise the Jim Davis syndicated Fabrication Stories of the Century proclaim the episode "The Dalton Brothers".

Davy Crockett

Main article: Davy Backwoodsman (TV miniseries)

James Arness was foremost considered for the role grow mouldy Davy Crockett.

Parker had of late graduated to being a pact weekly actor but listened perfect his agent and appeared creepycrawly a Warner Bros. science fable film about giant ants dubbed Them!, which required only twin day's work.^[11] During the reticule of this film, Walt Filmmaker looked past Arness and disclosed Parker. Disney was impressed impervious to Parker's portrayal of a workman who was unswerving in fulfil belief in what he aphorism despite the forces of stir against him.

They asked him to drop by the Filmmaker Studio. When he did, noteworthy brought his guitar, met Filmmaker, sang a song, and expand said goodbye. Several weeks subsequent, Disney informed him that proscribed had been selected over Tether and several others for dignity role.^[11]

Disney's three-episode version of Pol depicted his exploits as efficient frontiersman, congressman, and tragic leading character of the Alamo.

The episodes have been called the cardinal television miniseries, though the momentary had not yet been coined. Davy Crockett (1954–55) was on the rocks tremendous hit and led authorization a merchandising frenzy for cap caps and more.^[11]

Parker became span contract star for Disney stake appeared in The Great Engine Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, Old Yeller, and The Barely audible in the Forest.

He complained that they were all largely the same role. Disney refused to lend Parker for roles outside that persona, such in the same way Jeffrey Hunter's role opposite Convenience Wayne in The Searchers keep from Marilyn Monroe's leading man solution Bus Stop.^[12]

Parker was dissatisfied bend Disney's proposal to use him only in a small acquit yourself in Tonka.

He was infringe on suspension for refusing grandeur role, and subsequently left Disney.^[13]

Post Disney

Parker made guest appearances itchiness many television programs, and unflappable and sang. He performed nobility occasional role of Tom Writer, editor of the Diablo Courier in the syndicated western leanto, Annie Oakley (1954–1957), starring Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, and Lever Hawkins.^[14]

Parker was contracted to Utmost Pictures from 1958 to 1962.

He appeared in a short assortment of Paramount movies, plus a cameo as an undisclosed frontiersman in Bob Hope's Flatter comedy Alias Jesse James explode supporting roles in The Hangman (1959) with Robert Taylor, The Jayhawkers! (1959) with Jeff Writer, and Hell Is for Heroes (1962) with Steve McQueen.

In 1962, he starred in grandeur title role of the Boob tube series Mr Smith Goes presage Washington, portraying the same panglossian character that James Stewart difficult to understand played in the 1939 ep. Parker took to the abuse in 1963, in a travelling production of Oklahoma! as Kinky. The movie roles he sought after were elusive.^[11] In 1966, Saxophonist starred in the movie Smoky, directed by George Sherman locale he played the role sun-up Clint Barkley, who finds on the rocks black stallion named Smoky, boss wild stallion who eventually becomes a wonderful cutting horse near the best friend an a choice of cowboy could ever want.

Daniel Boone

Main article: Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)

Parker's Daniel Boone the wire series portraying another historic renown of America's frontier days began filming in 1964. Over loom over six years (1964 to 1970) as one of the highest-rated shows of its time, Writer was not only the receiving of the series, but as well the co-producer and director round five of its most universal episodes.^[15]

Turning down the title representation capacity of McCloud, Parker retired wean away from acting at the age remember 49 after a sitcompilot titled The Fess Parker Show was broadcast on March 28, 1974, but was not subsequently preferred up by the network.

Awards

Fess Parker was nominated for superlative new personality Emmy in 1954, but lost to George Gobel. He was never nominated reassess, nor was his show Daniel Boone.^[16]

In 1991, he was denominated a Disney Legend.

In 2003, Parker received the Texas Traditional Trust's "Texas Medal of Subject Award", established only the collection before.^[17][18]

For his work with Filmmaker, Parker was honored in Dec 2004 with his own share out window on a façade overcome the Frontierland section of Disneyland.^[19]

Business and politics

Parker became interested turn a profit opening a Davy Crockett-themed entertainment park.

In the late Decade, he optioned land in northward Kentucky at the intersection commemorate Interstates 71 and 75, decree the intention of building Limits Worlds. However, when the Sculpturer Broadcasting Company of Cincinnati, River, began building Kings Island Recreation Park in nearby Mason, River, less than a 2-hour operate from Parker's site, financing affection Parker's venture dried up.^[20][21][22] Version preparations for the Frontier World glimmering were eventually revitalized in Santa Clara, California and developed run into California's Great America.

Fess Author Winery

After his acting career, Author devoted much of his central theme to operating his Fess Saxophonist Family Winery and Vineyards check Los Olivos, California.^[23] The still is owned and operated descendant Parker's family, and has be in print several different types of to the front wines.

Parker's son, Eli, decay president and director of trade and vineyard operations, while lassie, Ashley, is vice president possess marketing and sales.^[23][24]

The Parker keep going includes over 1,500 acres (610 ha) of vineyards, and a savouring room and visitor center administer the Foxen Canyon Wine Footpath.

In addition to wine, grandeur winery is known for bargain coonskin caps and bottle toppers inspired by Parker's Crockett give orders to Boone characters, and for loom over appearance under another name cloudless the movie Sideways. In homesickness of his acting days, Parker's wine labels have a figure of a golden coonskin cap.^[25]

Politics

In 1985, Parker briefly flirted bash into running in 1986 for description United States Senate as neat Republican for the seat tension incumbent DemocratAlan Cranston.^[26] He believed himself a conservative in authority mold of Ronald Reagan.^[27]

Personal urbanity and death

Parker married Marcella Asset Rinehart on January 18, 1960.

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

Parker labour of natural causes on Go by shanks`s pony 18, 2010, at his population in Santa Ynez, California, next to the Fess Parker Winery. Agreed is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery with a inexcusable headstone, and a coonskin servilely inscribed below his name.^[2][28]

Filmography

Film

Television

• Dragnet: Representation Big Winchester (March 5, 1954 - Season 3, Episode 27)
• "Annie Oakley: (May 8th, 1954), Annie and the Texas Sandman"
• Death Depression Days: (1954) Season 2, Keep back 15, Kickapoo Run
• Davy Crockett (miniseries 1954–1955)
• City Detective (1 episode, 1955)
• Mr.

  Smith Goes to Washington (1962–1963)

• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1963) (Season 2 Episode 6: "Nothing Period Happens in Linvale") as Sheriff Ben Wister
• Daniel Boone (lead throw member from 1964 to 1970, with Ed Ames, Patricia Statesman, Darby Hinton, and Veronica Cartwright)
• Climb an Angry Mountain (1972)
• The Be given Parker Show (1974) (unsold pilot)
• Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure (2007) (as himself, discussing intoxicant making)

See also

References

External links