Fess Parker Dies at 85
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fess Parker, a television icon to a generation of youngsters as Davy Crockett and later Daniel Boone, has died at the age of 85 of natural causes.
Parker, who was also a major California winemaker and developer, died Thursday at his Santa Ynez Valley home, family spokeswoman Sao Anash said. His death came on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.
Anash said Parker was coherent and speaking with family just minutes before his death. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
The 6-foot, 6-inch Parker was quickly embraced by 1950s children as the man in a coonskin cap who stood for the spirit of the American frontier. Baby boomers gripped by the Crockett craze scooped up Davy lunch boxes, toy Old Betsy rifles, buckskin shirts and trademark fur caps. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" ("Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee...") was a No. 1 hit for singer Bill Hayes while Parker's own version reached No. 5.
Parker, who was also a major California winemaker and developer, died Thursday at his Santa Ynez Valley home, family spokeswoman Sao Anash said. His death came on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.
Anash said Parker was coherent and speaking with family just minutes before his death. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
The 6-foot, 6-inch Parker was quickly embraced by 1950s children as the man in a coonskin cap who stood for the spirit of the American frontier. Baby boomers gripped by the Crockett craze scooped up Davy lunch boxes, toy Old Betsy rifles, buckskin shirts and trademark fur caps. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" ("Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee...") was a No. 1 hit for singer Bill Hayes while Parker's own version reached No. 5.
