| Fess Parker Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 5½ in |
| Weight | 100 kg |
| Date of Birth | August 16, 1924 |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Date of Death | March 18, 2010 |
Fess Parker was an American actor, singer, winemaker, and resort owner-operator who is known for playing the titular role in the miniseries Davy Crockett as well as in the action-adventure series Daniel Boone. In addition to that, he was also cast in several films including Untamed Frontier, Hell Is for Heroes, The Kid from Left Field, The Light in the Forest, Thunder Over the Plains, Old Yeller, The Great Locomotive Chase, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, Daniel Boone: Frontier Trail Rider, Smoky, The Hangman, The Jayhawkers!, Climb an Angry Mountain, and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.
Born Name
F. E. Parker Jr.
Other Names
Fess Elisha Parker Jr., Fessbo
Age
He was born on August 16, 1924.
Died
On March 18, 2010, Fess Parker died of natural causes at the age of 85 in Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County, California, United States.
Resting Place
Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California, United States
Sun Sign
Leo
Born Place
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, United States
Residence
He resided in Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County, California, United States.
Nationality
Education
Fess Parker got enrolled at the Hardin–Simmons University (HSU) located in Abilene, Texas (with assistance from the G.I. Bill) and was an active member of the H-SU Players Club. In 1947, he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin as a history major and continued his pursuits in drama. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1950 with a degree in history.
After graduating, he still had a year remaining on his GI Bill benefits so he went on to study drama at the University of Southern California and pursued a master’s degree in theater history.
Occupation
Actor, Singer, Winemaker, Resort Owner-operator
Family
- Father – Fess Elisha Parker (Later added the initial “E.”) (Tax Assessor)
- Mother – Mackie Allen Parker
Genre
Soundtrack
Instruments
Vocals
Net Worth
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, he had a net worth of $20 Million.
Build
Average
Height
6 ft 5½ in or 197 cm
Weight
100 kg or 220.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Fess Parker dated –
- Jane Howard (1956) – In September 1956, he started going out with Jane Howard but the duo parted ways the same year in November.
- Marcella Belle Rinehart (1960-2010) – On January 18, 1960, Fess Parker got married to Marcella Belle Rinehart and they had 2 children – a son named Fess Elisha Parker III and a daughter named Ashley Allen Rinehart.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Salt and Pepper
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Towering height
Fess Parker Facts
- He grew up on a farm in Tom Green County near San Angelo.
- During his younger years, he changed his name from ‘F. E. Parker Jr.’ to ‘Fess Elisha Parker Jr.’ after choosing the middle name himself. He selected his middle name to be ‘Elisha’ because it sounded rhythmic and matched his middle initial.
- In the latter part of World War II, Fess Parker enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the hope of becoming a pilot. However, he was disqualified because he was too tall at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m). After that, he tried to become a radioman gunner but was found too large to fit comfortably into the rear cockpit. Eventually, he was transferred to the United States Marine Corps as a radio operator and shipped out to the South Pacific shortly before the war ended and was discharged in 1946.
- Alongside Kathleen Crowley, Jeff York, Sebastian Cabot, George Reeves, and David Stollery, Fess Parker co-starred as John ‘Doc’ Grayson in the Western film Westward Ho the Wagons! in 1956.
- He was stabbed in the neck by the other driver during an argument following an automobile collision.
- In 1991, he was named a Disney Legend.
- Fess Parker was friends with Ronald Reagan, Darby Hinton, and Buddy Ebsen.
- He received the Texas Cultural Trust’s “Texas Medal of Arts Award” in 2003.
Featured Image by NBC Television / eBay / Public Domain
