Actor Fess Parker dead at 85

LOS ANGELES, March 18 (UPI) -- Fess Parker, a U.S. actor famous for his roles in adventure movies and TV shows, has died of natural causes, The Hollywood Reporter said Thursday. He was 85.

Among Parker's best known film credits are "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier," "Old Yeller," "The Great Locomotive Chase," "Westward Ho the Wagons!" and "The Light in the Forest." In addition, he starred in TV's "Davy Crockett," "Daniel Boone," "Annie Oakley" and "The Fess Parker Show," and was declared a Disney legend in 1991.

The actor also enjoyed a second career as owner of the Doubletree resort in Santa Barbara, Calif., as well as the Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos, Calif., the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

Parker is survived by his wife, Marcella Rinehart, and two children, Fess and Ashley.