Fess Parker, TV's 'Davy Crockett' dies

Los Angeles (AP) Fess Parker, a baby-boomer idol in the 1950s who launched a craze for raccoon-skin caps as television's Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85.

Family spokeswoman Sao Anash said Parker, who was also TV's Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

"She's a wreck," Anash said, adding Parker was speaking with family just minutes before his death.