SANTA YNEZ – Fess Parker, television’s Davy Crockett, has died at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Parker was an idol for baby-boomers when his series debuted in 1954. He recalled how he landed role.

“Mr. Disney was lookin’ for somebody to play Davy. He had to be strong, courageous and he had to sing like a bird.”

Parker became the man in the coonskip cap who stood for the spirit of the American frontier.

He appeared in several movies in the 1950’s, but left Hollywood to become a real estate developer and winemaker.

Parker was 85 when he died Thursday on his wife’s birthday. (INT)

Story Date: September 2, 2010