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Fess Parker, Jr., "Davy Crockett" and "Daniel Boone", tombstone and grave, Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California, photos

Fess Parker, Jr., "Davy Crockett" and "Daniel Boone", tombstone and grave, Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California, photo

The tombstone and grave site of Fess E. Parker, Jr., famed for his TV series portrayals of Davy Crockett (1954-55) and Daniel Boone (1964-70). Fess Parker was born as the son of Mackie Allen Parker and Fess E. Parker, Sr. on August 16, 1924 at Fort Worth, Texas. He entered the Navy during World War II in hopes of becoming a pilot. He was rejected due to his height of 6' 5" (some sources say 6' 6") which meant that he was too tall to fit in the cockpits of the aircraft of the time. He transferred to the Marine Corps where he served as a radio operator. After the war ended, he graduated in 1950 from the University of Texas with a degree in history and later from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in theater history. After several small parts in films, his first big role came when he starred as the lead character in Disney's Davy Crockett series during 1954-55. The Davy Crockett series also featured Buddy Ebsen as George Russell. While the series had only five episodes, it started a national craze for all things Davy Crockett. It is estimated that $300 million (equivilant to $2 billion today) in Davy Crockett theme merchandise was sold in 1955 including coon skin caps, lunch boxes, rifles and buckskin shirts.

After the Davy Crockett series, Fess Parker had roles in several movies including The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) and Old Yeller (1957) where he portrayed Jim Coates, the father of the family. From 1964 to 1970, Fess Parker portrayed the famed frontiersman, Daniel Boone, in 165 episodes on NBC. The Daniel Boone series also featured Ed Ames as Mingo, a half Cherokee Indian friend of Boone's. Daniel Boone was portrayed in the series as wearing a coon skin cap as in the earlier Davy Crockett series but it is known that Daniel Boone in real life did not care for coon skin caps.

After retiring from the entertainment industry, Fess Parker and his family started the Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard in 1989 which continues in operation today by his family members and under the same name. On March 18, 2010, Fess Parker, Jr. died at his home at Santa Ynez, California of natural causes. He was 85 years old. The date of his death was also the 84th birthday of his wife, Marcella (Marcy) Belle Rinehart. They had been married 50 years. Fess Parker, Jr. was buried overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara Cemetery at Santa Barbara, California. Note that his tombstone features a small image of a coon skin cap between the birth and death dates. Fess Parker, Jr. is buried beside his father, Fess Parker, Sr. and mother, Mackie Allen Parker. See the additional photos below.

The grave and tombstone of Fess E. Parker, Sr., 1900-1965, the father of the actor, Fess E. Parker, Jr. more commonly known as simply, Fess Parker.

The grave and tombstone of Fess E. Parker, Sr., 1900-1965, the father of the actor, Fess E. Parker, Jr. more commonly known as simply, Fess Parker.

The grave and tombstone of Mackie Allen Parker, 1898-1985, the mother of the actor, Fess Parker.

The grave and tombstone of Mackie Allen Parker, 1898-1985, the mother of the actor, Fess Parker.

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