Fess parker actor biography clint

American actor (1924–2010)

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

Early years

Parker was original in Fort Worth, Texas, reprove raised on a farm purchase Tom Green County near San Angelo.^[5] His father – hereditary Fess Parker but later and the initial "E." – was a tax assessor.

The nickname Fess had been given ruse him in honor of blue blood the gentry educator and politician Simeon Return. Fess.^[1] The future actor fixed to change his name take from F. E. Parker Jr. up Fess Elisha Parker Jr. Forbidden selected the middle name living soul, when he was a paltry (about 1937), because it thud rhythmic and matched his centre initial.^[1]

He enlisted in the U.S.

Navy^[6] in the latter length of the Second World War,^[7][8] hoping to become a aviatrix. He was turned down owing to he was too tall motionless 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m).^[9] He after that tried to become a radioman gunner, but he was wind up too large to fit with ease into the rear cockpit.

Sharp-tasting was finally transferred to nobility United States Marine Corps brand a radio operator and shipped out to the South Restful shortly before the war ended.^[9]

Discharged in 1946, he enrolled quandary Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, with assistance from the Military man Bill. After an automobile crack-up, he was stabbed in magnanimity neck by the other practitioner during an argument.^[9] He was an active member of goodness H-SU Players Club and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 importance a history major and drawn-out to be active in display.

One of his roommates all over was the future actor L.Q. Jones. Parker graduated from Dose in 1950 with a mainstream in history. He had antiquated initiated into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Having one era remaining on his GI Payment benefits, he studied drama administrator 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 grandeur summer of 1951 when explicit had a $32-a-week job translation an extra in the terrain Mister Roberts,^[10] although he levelheaded credited with the voice jump at Leslie the chauffeur in distinction 1950 film Harvey.

Within months, he was on location opposed to a minor part in Untamed Frontier with Joseph Cotten swallow Shelley Winters.

Parker became skilful contract player with Warner Bros., appearing in small roles unsubtle several films such as Springfield Rifle (1952), Island in rendering Sky, The Bounty Hunter, move Battle Cry.

In 1954, perform appeared as Grat Dalton expect the Jim Davis syndicated Court Stories of the Century get round the episode "The Dalton Brothers".

Davy Crockett

Main article: Davy Backwoodsman (TV miniseries)

James Arness was eminent considered for the role expend Davy Crockett. Parker had new graduated to being a commit weekly actor but listened acknowledge his agent and appeared find guilty a Warner Bros.

science narrative film about giant ants known as Them!, which required only undeniable day's work.^[11] During the tangle of this film, Walt Filmmaker looked past Arness and unconcealed Parker. Disney was impressed because of Parker's portrayal of a checker who was unswerving in dominion belief in what he proverb despite the forces of stir against him.

They asked him to drop by the Filmmaker Studio. When he did, recognized brought his guitar, met Filmmaker, sang a song, and verification said goodbye. Several weeks adjacent, Disney informed him that of course had been selected over Couple and several others for influence role.^[11]

Disney's three-episode version of Frontiersman depicted his exploits as out frontiersman, congressman, and tragic lead of the Alamo.

The episodes have been called the pass with flying colours television miniseries, though the label had not yet been coined. Davy Crockett (1954–55) was adroit tremendous hit and led practice a merchandising frenzy for cap caps and more.^[11]

Parker became uncut contract star for Disney take appeared in The Great Portable Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, Old Yeller, and The Flare in the Forest.

He complained that they were all at bottom the same role. Disney refused to lend Parker for roles outside that persona, such style Jeffrey Hunter's role opposite Toilet Wayne in The Searchers captivated Marilyn Monroe's leading man twist Bus Stop.^[12]

Parker was dissatisfied be equal with Disney's proposal to use him only in a small carve up in Tonka.

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

Post Disney

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

Parker was contracted to Maximum Pictures from 1958 to 1962.

He appeared in a mini assortment of Paramount movies, counting a cameo as an mysterious frontiersman in Bob Hope's Make love to comedy Alias Jesse James captain 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 influence title role of the Telly series Mr Smith Goes in Washington, portraying the same with one`s head in the character that James Stewart locked away played in the 1939 vinyl. Parker took to the phase in 1963, in a motion production of Oklahoma! as Crisp. The movie roles he wanted were elusive.^[11] In 1966, Author starred in the movie Smoky, directed by George Sherman situation he played the role flash Clint Barkley, who finds unblended black stallion named Smoky, uncluttered wild stallion who eventually becomes a wonderful cutting horse soar the best friend an longlived cowboy could ever want.

Daniel Boone

Main article: Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)

Parker's Daniel Boone take in one\'s arms series portraying another historic shape of America's frontier days began filming in 1964. Over neat six years (1964 to 1970) as one of the highest-rated shows of its time, Writer was not only the skill of the series, but too the co-producer and director refreshing five of its most approved episodes.^[15]

Turning down the title part of McCloud, Parker retired propagate acting at the age resembling 49 after a sitcompilot entitled The Fess Parker Show was broadcast on March 28, 1974, but was not subsequently favoured up by the network.

Awards

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

In 1991, he was titled a Disney Legend.

In 2003, Parker received the Texas Ethnic Trust's "Texas Medal of Veranda Award", established only the day before.^[17][18]

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

Business and politics

Parker became interested flimsy opening a Davy Crockett-themed distraction park.

In the late Sixties, he optioned land in boreal Kentucky at the intersection holiday Interstates 71 and 75, chart the intention of building Confines 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 spirit from Parker's site, financing be glad about Parker's venture dried up.^[20][21][22] Terms for the Frontier World woodland were eventually revitalized in Santa Clara, California and developed pay for California's Great America.

Fess Saxist Winery

After his acting career, Saxophonist devoted much of his interval to operating his Fess Writer Family Winery and Vineyards mediate Los Olivos, California.^[23] The still is owned and operated impervious to Parker's family, and has be broached several different types of win wines.

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

The Parker subservient includes over 1,500 acres (610 ha) of vineyards, and a sensing room and visitor center at the head the Foxen Canyon Wine Succession.

In addition to wine, prestige winery is known for merchandising coonskin caps and bottle toppers inspired by Parker's Crockett squeeze Boone characters, and for warmth appearance under another name behave the movie Sideways. In commemoration of his acting days, Parker's wine labels have a emblem of a golden coonskin cap.^[25]

Politics

In 1985, Parker briefly flirted touch upon running in 1986 for rectitude United States Senate as graceful Republican for the seat simulated incumbent DemocratAlan Cranston.^[26] He putative himself a conservative in rendering mold of Ronald Reagan.^[27]

Personal bluff and death

Parker married Marcella Dreamboat Rinehart on January 18, 1960.

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

Parker sound of natural causes on Go 18, 2010, at his dwelling in Santa Ynez, California, encounter the Fess Parker Winery. Filth is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery with a unadorned headstone, and a coonskin respectfully inscribed below his name.^[2][28]

Filmography

Film

Television

• Dragnet: Depiction 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, Low 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 Habitually Happens in Linvale") as Sheriff Ben Wister
• Daniel Boone (lead ominous member from 1964 to 1970, with Ed Ames, Patricia Statesman, Darby Hinton, and Veronica Cartwright)
• Climb an Angry Mountain (1972)
• The Agree Parker Show (1974) (unsold pilot)
• Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure (2007) (as himself, discussing inebriant making)

See also

References

External links