Fess Parker, Star of ‘Daniel Boone’ and 'Davy Crockett Dies

Fess Parker, Aug. 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010, TV and film star, has died in his Santa Ynez Valley, Calif. home on his wife, Marcella’s 84th birthday. The cause of death was due to natural causes but the family stated that he was coherent and communicating just minutes before his passing. He was 85.

He inspired an American fad for coonskin hats with the 1954 launch of the TV show “Davy Crockett.” That show aired only three episodes but came back the next year as a feature film “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.”

Fess Parker followed up with Disney hits “Old Yeller” where he portrayed the father, Jim Coates, and “Westward Ho the Wagons!” Parker was well known to horse lovers as Clint Barkley, the lead man in the 1966 movie “Smokey” based on the book by Will James.

However, he donned the coonskin hat again to star in the hit TV series “Daniel Boone.” It ran for six seasons and 159 episodes between 1964 through 1970. Parker had a couple other appearances after the series ended but he mostly retired from Hollywood life. He went into real estate developing and opened a winery – a photo of which is pictured here.

"I left the business after 22 years," he told the AP in 2001. "It was time to leave Hollywood. I came along at a time when I'm starting out with Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Sterling Hayden and Gregory Peck. Who needed a guy running around in a coonskin cap?"

I’d like to think that we all do, Mr. Parker.

Peter Graves

Peter Graves, whose real name was Peter Aurness, March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010, handsome, square-jawed actor and younger brother to “Gunsmoke” star James Arness, has died at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The cause of death was a heart attack. He was 83.

He played the pilot in the 1980 satire movie “Airplane!” delivering his comedic lines with dead-pan seriousness that is oft repeated in pop culture today.

Over the course of his career, Peter Graves appeared in over 130 films and television shows. Horse lovers everywhere knew him first as Jim Newton in the 1950ish TV series “Fury’ about a boy and his beautiful black horse. But he probably gained more widespread recognition in 1967 when he took the role of Jim Phelps, the leader of the "Impossible Missions Force" on popular television spy drama “Mission: Impossible.”

The dramatic opening of the show had Grave’s character receiving his elite spy team's next mission instructions on a tape that would self-destruct in a puff of smoke. He played the part until the series was cancelled in 1973 but not before winning a Golden Globe for his work there. He later reprised the role in a TV revival that ran from 1988 to 1990.

Other credits include “Stalag 17” and A&E’s “Biography” which earned him an Emmy. In 2009, he was given a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Peter Graves leaves behind his wife Joan and three daughters.

Panos Glykofrydis

Panos Glykofrydis, Aug. 25, 1930 – March 14, 2010, artistic director, writer and TV and film director, has died. He was 80.

His directing debut was in 1959 with the comedy “Douleies me founts,” the English title being “Jack of All Trades.”

Panos Glykofrydis went on to direct actor Thanasis Vengos in several other comedies including “Zito I trella” and, under the English title, “He’s a Mad Mad Vengos” among others.

In 1966, Glykofrydis directed and wrote the Thessaloniki Film Festival winner with Best Screenplay, Best Music and Best Actor awards. The film, known under the English title “With Glittering Eyes,” dealt with the resistance of the Greek people during the occupation.

Panos Glykofrydis most recent work was the TV series “To geloion tou pragmatos” in 1994 through 1995.

Ljubo Kapor

Ljubo Kapor, nicknamed ‘Kiki,’ Sept. 21, 1932 – March 13, 2010, Croatian actor on television, has died. The actor had been undertaking chemotherapy though had continued to work through most of his illness. He was 77.

He played Djuro Pletikosa on 146 episodes of the popular TV series “Luda kuca” beginning in 2005 to current day despite declining weight and hair loss. The writers for the show worked with Kapor’s condition, changing it to fit the developments in his health.

Ljubo Kapor began his career on television with “Svemirska patrol” and appeared regularly including as a voice actor. In 1980, he gained more widespread fame in “Velo misto” portraying Pacaferaj.

As a voice actor, Kapor was heard in “The Elm Chanted Forest” in 1986, the English title being “Fantasy Forest.” In 1990, Kapor’s voice could be heard in “The Magician’s Hat.”

In film, Ljubo Kapor appeared in the 2009 “Kenjac” attending the premier shortly before his death. The film won three awards at the Pula Film Festival.

Film Composer Paul Dunlap Dies

Paul Dunlap, July 19, 1919 – March 11, 2010, musical film composer of the 50’s and 60’s, has died in Palm Springs. He was 90.

He composed the score for what would be Abbott & Costello’s final film, "Dance With Me, Henry" in 1956.

Paul Dunlap also acted as the film composer for many of The Three Stooges early '60s films such as "The Three Stooges Meet Hercules" and the 1962 "The Three Stooges in Orbit.” Other Stooges movies include "The Three Stooges Go Around The World In a Daze.”

All in all, Paul Dunlap was the musical composer in about 200 film and television productions, many of which were well known and mainly of the lesser or B-movie caliber. His most recent work was as composer for “Gorp” in 1980.

He is quoted as saying, "I can only hope that I will be remembered for my piano concerto, or my choral piece, "Celebration ", and not the inferior movies I was forced to be associated with."

 

Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen, Feb. 19, 1941 – March 11, 2010, pro football Hall of Famer and TV actor, has died in Los Angeles. He had been battling mesothelioma, a cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos. He was 69.

He was a great defensive tackle with the LA Rams and he also played Michael Landon’s best friend on “Little House on the Prairie” holding that role from 1977 – 1981.

As Jonathan Garvey, he was friend to the hit NBC show’s Charles Ingalls on 51 episodes. Most said the role was basically a portrayal of himself; a warm, gentle soul and dedicated friend both on screen and off.

Merlin Olsen also appeared on another NBC TV series, “Father Murphy” in the lead role – lasting 31 episodes – and played the father in “Aaron’s Way” in 1988.

He leaves behind his wife of 47 years, three children and four grandchildren.

 

Dorothy Janis

Dorothy Janis, Feb. 19, 1910 – March 10, 2010, actress who held major roles during the era of silent film, has died in the Phoenix, Arizona area. She was 100 years old though some reports dispute her date of birth.

She appeared in the 1929 “The Pagan,” playing opposite “Latin lover” actor Ramon Novarro in what was widely considered his biggest box-office hit during his contract with MGM.

The film had no speaking parts but featured a musical score. Dorothy Janis was the half-Pacific Islander/ half-white heroine and Novarro sang Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown’s highly popular "Pagan Love Song," accompanied by Janis who just mouthed the lyrics. For the soundtrack, another female voice was used.

Dorothy Janis had parts in three minor films. Her only sound film was “Lummox” in 1930. It was based on the Fannie Hurst novel and was directed by Herbert Brenon.

She was married to bandleader Wayne King.

Corey Haim

Corey Haim, Dec. 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010, child star actor who became a teenage heartthrob, has died of an apparent overdose involving prescription drugs.

Haim was reportedly found unresponsive by his mother and rushed to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank where he was pronounced dead at 3a.m. He was 38.

He became a teenage heartthrob in the 1980s for starring roles in such films as “Lucas,” “License to Drive” and “The Lost Boys.” Haim’s popularity put him right alongside some of the leading actors of the day including Kiefer Sutherland, Sally Field, Teri Garr, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr, Charlie Sheen and others.

Regarding the actor’s death, Sgt. Frank Albarren of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Station stated, "It was an apparent overdose…Unknown what type of medication."

Corey Haim had a past history with drug problems but had recently been on a career comeback.

Teresa Gutiérrez

Teresa Gutiérrez, Oct. 25, 1928 – March 9, 2010, iconic and popular actress of Colombian television, has died at her home in Bogota according to her son Miguel Varoni. Her death was reported from natural causes at the age of 81.

She began her acting career in 1978 on the TV series “La abuela” and, from there, went on to appear in numerous soaps, mini-series and other television shows. Sometimes in good and other times evil roles, Teresa Gutierrez played the mother to actor Damian Alcazar in “Satanas” in 2007. The film won 4 awards and garnered 3 other nominations. Damian Alcazar is probably best known in the U.S. as Lord Sopespian in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.”

Other film credits include “Muertos del Susto.”

 

Richard Stapley / Richard Wyler

Richard Stapley, June 20, 1923 – March 5, 2010, English-born writer and actor popular in the 1940s, has died at a Palm Springs, California hospital according to his publicist Alan Eichler. The cause of death was kidney failure. He was 86.

Under the name Richard Stapley, he appeared with Elizabeth Taylor in "Little Women" and with Gene Kelly in "The Three Musketeers. Other credits include "King of the Khyber Rifles" with Tyrone Power and "The Strange Door" with Boris Karloff.

With a move back to Great Britain, he took the name Richard Wyler, starring as Interpol Agent Anthony Smith in "Man From Interpol." The series ran 39 episodes from 1960-61.

Stapley’s novel “Naked Legacy” was published in 2004.