Los Angeles , California ( CNN ) -- Fess Parker , best known for playing Daniel Boone in a 1960s television series , died Thursday at his home near Santa Barbara , California , his publicist said . He was 85 . Parker followed his acting career with successful hotel and winery ventures around Santa Barbara . A statement issued by his family did not reveal the cause of death . Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years , Marcella , their son and daughter , 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild who `` spent a great deal of time with Fess in his final months and weeks , '' the statement said . A native of Texas , Parker served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before graduating from the University of Texas-Austin in 1950 . He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s to pursue acting . Walt Disney cast Parker in the lead role of `` Davy Crockett , King of the Wild Frontier , '' co-starring Buddy Ebsen . He followed that with several more Disney films , including `` Davy Crockett and the River Boat Pirates , '' `` The Great Locomotive Chase '' and `` Smoky . '' His TV career took off in 1964 with the title role in NBC 's `` Daniel Boone , '' which aired for for six seasons . When the series ended in 1970 , Parker became a real estate developer in Santa Barbara . `` After successfully opening three high-end mobile home parks , the 360-room Fess Parker Doubletree Resort opened in 1985 , '' the family statement said . `` It is one of the most successful hotels on the Santa Barbara waterfront . '' Parker and his family also opened Fess Parker Winery on the Foxen in Los Olivos , California . CNN 's Brittany Kaplan contributed to this report .
Parker , Thursday , star of `` Daniel Boone '' TV series , died 85 , his publicist said . Parker , a WWII vet , started his career in Disney films , notably as Davy Crockett . When series ended in 1970 , Parker became a real estate developer . Parker is survived by his wife of 85 , `` Daniel Boone '' , two children and 11 grandkids .