Who do you cast to play one of Texas’ greatest heroes?
Well, if you’re Walt Disney, you hire a man who looks the part!

Walt Disney didn’t set out to cast Fess Parker for the role of Davy Crockett, “King of the Wild Frontier,” in the 3-part television series he created to represent Frontierland and market the 1955 opening of Disneyland. Walt had his eye on a better-known actor, James Arness, but during auditions it was Parker who made the strongest impression…and no wonder!

Fess Elisha Parker really WAS a “larger-than-life” Texan.
Born in Fort Worth and raised on a farm near San Angelo, the 29-year-old actor stood 6′-6″ tall. (The real Davy Crockett was probably only about 5′-8″ tall, though that was an impressive height in his day.) If more proof were needed, Parker had a degree in history as well as theater. He even shared Davy Crockett’s birthday–August 16–though the Alamo hero was born 138 years earlier.

Disney’s Davy Crockett mini-series was a new concept and immensely popular!
Parker went on to star in several other Disney roles before branching out to pursue other opportunities.