About Fess Parker
Fess Elisha Parker Jr. (born F. E. Parker Jr.; August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010) was an American film and television actor best known for his portrayals of the title characters in Walt Disney Productions' television miniseries Davy Crockett (1954–55; ABC) and the television series Daniel Boone (1964–70; NBC). == Early years == 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. Parker decided to change his name from F. E. Parker Jr. to Fess Elisha Parker Jr. He selected the middle name himself, when he was a teenager (about 1937), because it sounded rhythmic and matched his middle initial. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the latter part of the Second World War, hoping to become a pilot. He was turned down because he was too tall at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m).
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.