Famous San Angelo Movie Star to be Honored with Film Festival

SAN ANGELO, TX — A local film and television star is being celebrated here in San Angelo on his birthday.

Fess Parker, the famous actor who played Davy Crockett in film and in a miniseries, is being honored by San Angelo with a film festival at Fort Concho on August 16, 2024, which is also Parker’s birthday.

Parker was born in Fort Worth, Texas but was raised near San Angelo. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and eventually ended up with the United State Marine Corps.

After his service, he attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and then enrolled at the University of Texas where he participated in drama. Parker ended up at USC and majored in theater history.

Parker began working in the film and television industry and had an extra role in the play, Mister Roberts. He signed with Warner Brothers and had little roles in films like "Springfield Rifle," "Island in the Sky," "Battle Cry," and "The Bounty Hunter."

After working on the movie "THEM!," he was discovered by Walt Disney and was cast as Davy Crockett. He played the famous frontiersman in a miniseries and in films like “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier," “Davy Crocket and the River Pirates," and “Alias Jesse James." Parker was also cast as one of the leads in Daniel Boone in film and TV.

Personally, Parker married Marcella Belle Rinehart in January 1960. He died on March 18, 2010, in his home in Santa Ynez, California.

San Angelo and Fort Concho will be hosting the Fess Parker Film Festival on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., in honor of Parker’s 100th birthday. There will also be a second part of the festival on Saturday, August 17, 2024, with times to be determined.

There will be snacks and refreshments available and there is also a small exhibit on Parker.

The films that will be played are still being considered.

Fort Concho’s Bob Bluthardt will be in the LIVE! Studio on June 25th, where Parker will be a topic of discussion.