‘Daniel Boone’ & ‘Davy Crockett’ star Fess Parker dead at 85: Fess Parker, best known for playing Daniel Boone in a 1960s television series, died Thursday. Family spokeswoman Sao Anash says Parker died Thursday morning of natural causes at his Santa Ynez home near the Fess Parker Winery. His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

Fess Parker was casted by Walt Disney as the lead role of “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”. It was followed by more Disney films, including “Davy Crockett and the River Boat Pirates,” “The Great Locomotive Chase” and “Smoky.”

Parker is also known for his title role of the TV adventure series “Daniel Boone” which is based on a real-life American frontiersman. Actor-singer Ed Ames, formerly of the Ames Brothers, played Boone’s Indian friend, Mingo.

Parker became a real estate developer and a vintner after his showbiz career .

Fess Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella, their son and daughter, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild

(photo from wikipedia)