28 Facts About Fess Parker

The name Fess had been given to him in honor of the educator and politician Simeon D Fess.

Fess Parker selected the middle name himself, when he was a teenager, because it sounded rhythmic and matched his middle initial.

Fess Parker enlisted in the US Navy in the latter part of World War II, hoping to become a pilot.

Fess Parker then tried to become a radioman gunner, but he was found too large to fit comfortably into the rear cockpit.

Fess Parker was finally transferred to the United States Marine Corps as a radio operator and shipped out to the South Pacific shortly before the war ended.

Fess Parker was an active member of the H-SU Players Club and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 as a history major and continued to be active in drama.

Fess Parker graduated from UT in 1950 with a degree in history.

Fess Parker had been initiated into the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Fess Parker began his show-business career in the summer of 1951 when he had a $32-a-week job as an extra in the play Mister Roberts, although he is credited with the voice of Leslie, the chauffeur, in the 1950 film Harvey.

Fess Parker had recently graduated to being a contract weekly actor but listened to his agent and appeared in a Warner Bros.

Fess Parker had a small scene as a pilot put into an insane asylum after claiming his plane had been downed by giant flying insects.

Several weeks later, Fess Parker was informed that he had been selected over Arness and several others for the role, including Buddy Ebsen, who eventually played Crockett's sidekick, Georgie Russell.

Fess Parker complained that they were all basically the same role.

Fess Parker was dissatisfied with Disney's proposal to use him only in a small role in Tonka.

Fess Parker was put on suspension for refusing the role, and subsequently left Disney.

Fess Parker made guest appearances on many television programs, and composed and sang.

Fess Parker performed the occasional role of Tom Conrad, editor of the Diablo Courier in the syndicated western series, Annie Oakley, starring Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, and Jimmy Hawkins.

Fess Parker was contracted to Paramount Pictures from 1958 to 1962.

In 1966, Fess Parker starred in the movie Smoky, directed by George Sherman where he played the role of Clint Barkley, who finds a black stallion named Smoky, a wild stallion who eventually becomes a wonderful cutting horse and the best friend an old cowboy could ever want.

Over its six years as one of the highest-rated shows of its time, Fess Parker was not only the star of the series, but the co-producer and director of five of its most popular episodes.

Fess Parker was nominated for best new personality Emmy in 1954, but lost to George Gobel.

Fess Parker was never nominated again, nor was his show Daniel Boone.

In 2003, Fess Parker received the Texas Cultural Trust's "Texas Medal of Arts Award", established only the year before.

Fess Parker became interested in opening a Davy Crockett-themed amusement park.

The Fess Parker operation includes over 1,500 acres of vineyards, and a tasting room and visitor center along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.

In 1985, Fess Parker briefly flirted with running in 1986 for the United States Senate as a Republican for the seat of incumbent Democrat Alan Cranston.

Fess Parker considered himself a conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan.

Fess Parker is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery with a simple headstone, and a coonskin hat inscribed below his name.