Fess Elisha Parker, Jr. was born on the 16th August 1924, in Fort Worth, Texas and died on the 18th March, 2010 in Santa Ynez, California, USA. He was an actor and winemaker as well as resort owner. He is probably best known for creating the image of Davy Crockett in the television series under the same name (1955 – 1956). Fess Parker had been active in the entertainment industry from 1950 to 2007. His winery, named The Fess Parker Winery, belongs to the group of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
How much was the net worth of Fess Parker? Reportedly, at the time of his death his wealth was as much as $20 million.
Fess Parker Net Worth $20 Million
To begin with, Fess Parker grew-up near San Angelo, where his father had a farm, then during World War II Parker served in the USA Navy. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History. Then he moved to California and studied drama at the University of Southern California, with the aim of acquiring a Master of Arts degree in Theatre Studies.
In the early 1950s Parker played his first roles in movies, including “Harvey”(1950) by Henry Koster, “No Room for the Groom”(1952) and “Take Me to Town” (1953) both by Douglas Sirk, “The Kid from Left Field” (1953) by Harmon Jones, “Dragonfly Squadron”(1954) by Lesley Selander as well as many other films. He was under contract with the Walt Disney Studios and became known for his roles in the Disney TV series “Davy Crockett” (1954-1956), and the films developed from it – “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” (1955) and “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates” (1956). Moreover, Walt Disney made him the star of the feature films “The Great Locomotive Chase” (1956), “Old Yeller” (1957) and “The Light in the Forest” (1958). The Walt Disney Company appointed him as a Disney Legend in 1991. In the television series “Daniel Boone” (1964 – 1970) Parker played the historical figure of the pioneer and adventurer, of which he directed several episodes, and also worked as the producer. Overall, acting increased the total size of Fess Parker’s net worth considerably.
However, it must be said that Parker had some other engagements, too. In the 1970s, Fess Parker withdrew from the film business and became a real estate agent and hotelier. From the late 1980s, he worked in California as a winemaker at the family-owned wineries in Los Olivos in Santa Ynez Valley, producing several award winning wines. In reference to his film role of Davy Crockett, he chose as the logo of the company a golden raccoon hat. Parker was a long time friend of Ronald Reagan, whose property was near Parker’s wineries. He represented Reagan in an official mission in Australia in 1985.
Finally, in the personal life of the actor and winemaker, Parker married Marcella Belle Rinehart in 1960, and the couple had two children. He died from natural causes at home in Santa Ynez, California at the age of 85. According to his wishes, Parker rests at the Santa Barbara Cemetery in California, USA.
Texas Cultural Trust's "Texas Medal of Arts Award" (2003), Honored the "tribute window on a façade" in the Frontierland section of Disneyland
Nominations
Disney Legend (1991), Emmy Award for Best new personality (1954)
Movies
52), “Take Me to Town” (1953), “The Kid from Left “Harvey”(1950), “No Room for the Groom” (1953), “Dragonfly Squadron”(1954), “The Great Locomotive Chase” (1956), “Old Yeller” (1957), “The Light in the Forest” (1958)
I left the business after 22 years. It was time to leave Hollywood. I came along at a time when I'm starting out with Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Sterling Hayden and Gregory Peck. Who needed a guy running around in a coonskin cap?
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I guess you could call me plain. I don't go in for show. There isn't anything I want too much, except to be a good actor.
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There have been several turning points in my life, but the most important one came the day I stepped before the cameras as Davy Crockett. The way I look at things, a man's life story isn't his alone, but it belongs to a lot of people who have influenced him and done things for him that he can never repay.
In order for Buddy Ebsen to offer him dance lessons, he exchanged guitar lessons with Parker.
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Owns and operates a winery: Fess Parker Winery P.O. Box 908 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd. Los Olivos, CA 93441-9999 (800) 841-1104 [1997]
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Attended the funeral of longtime best friend, Buddy Ebsen, when the actor passed away in 2003.
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Best remembered by the public for his starring role as the title character in Daniel Boone (1964).
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Met Buddy Ebsen when the two were under contract at Disney in 1954.
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Was the only actor to appear in every episode of Daniel Boone (1964).
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Interviewed about the beginnings of his career and his "Davy Crockett" experiences in the book "Wild Wild Westerners" by Tom Weaver (BearManor, 2012).
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Fess Parker had eleven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
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Wanted to be cast opposite Marilyn Monroe in "Bus Stop" but could not overcome Walt Disney's disapproval.
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He was a major supporter of the Republican Party and once considered running for the senate in Nevada. He was a close friend of President Ronald Reagan, who in 1985 asked him to become his ambassador to Australia.
Appeared as an uncredited extra in Man on a Tightrope (1953). He is seen for a few seconds near the end of the movie as a U.S. GI sitting in a jeep guarding the border.
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Has two children, Fess Elisha III (Fess Parker) and Ashley Allen Rinehart.
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Parker talks about the beginnings of his career and the movie Them! (1954) in the book "A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde" (McFarland, 2010) by Tom Weaver.
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Best remembered by the public as Disney's Davy Crockett.
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To one generation of television fans he will always be Davy Crockett. To the next generation he will be the one and only Daniel Boone.
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Song "King of the Wild Frontier" was Number 1 on the "Hit Parade" for 16 weeks. Parker was paid $150. (source: interview with Fess Parker in the SF Chronicle, "Datebook" ("Pink") section, November 12, 2006).
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Walt Disney would not let Parker out of his contract, so he had to turn down a part in The Searchers (1956).
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At the time he was famous in France for his Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone roles, French distributors found they had to rename him - on posters, in TV programmers...etc. - for the French audience/ Public, into "Fier" Parker. One must know that "fesse(s)", in French, means "buttocks, bottom", whereas "fier" means "proud" ; a more becoming name for someone embodying American "Heroes"...
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Retired from Hollywood in 1973; among his successful California businesses are an ocean-front resort in Santa Barbara; a 21-room inn in Los Olivos; and an award-winning winery.
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Discovered by Adolphe Menjou who was a guest artist at the University of Texas while Fess was a student. Menjou helped him with formal introductions when he first got to Hollywood.
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Parker was named a Disney Legend in 1991.
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Played college football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX in the 1940s before transferring to the University of Texas-Austin.
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Graduate of The University of Texas at Austin - BA '50
$20 Million
