Fess Elisha Parker Jr. (August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010), was an American film and television actor best known for his portrayals of the titular characters in the Walt Disney television miniseries "Davy Crockett" (1954–55; ABC) and the long-running television series "Daniel Boone" (1964-70; NBC).

Parker was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised on a farm in Tom Green County near San Angelo. His father -- born Fess Parker but later added the initial "E." -- was a tax assessor. The name Fess had been given to him in honor of the educator and politician Simeon D. Fess.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the latter part of World War II, hoping to become a pilot. He was turned down because he was too tall at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m). He then tried to become a radioman gunner, but he was found too large to fit comfortably into the rear cockpit. He 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.

He married Marcella Belle Rinehart on January 18, 1960. They had two children, Fess Elisha Parker III and Ashley Allen Rinehart, along with 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Parker died of natural causes on March 18, 2010, at his home in Santa Ynez, California, near the Fess Parker Winery. He is buried in the Santa Barbara Cemetery with a simple headstone, and a coonskin hat inscribed below his name.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org