Corey Parker, the adaptable performer who won over TV viewers with his recurring appearances on “Will & Grace” and began his movie career in the cult favorite “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,” has passed away at 60 after battling cancer.
Parker died on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee, according to reports from his family. His aunt Emily Parker confirmed his passing to TMZ, and both his sister Noelle Parker and longtime friend Risa Bramon Garcia posted tributes on Instagram over the weekend.
“I believe he left this world weightless, at peace & surrounded with love,” Noelle Parker shared in her heartfelt message honoring her brother.
Born on July 8, 1965, in New York City, Parker entered the entertainment industry at age four, first appearing in TV commercials before studying at Manhattan’s esteemed High School of Performing Arts. The son of actress Rochelle “Rocky” Parker and John David Haas, he grew up deeply connected to show business. By 14, he was studying with Actors Studio instructors, and at 20, he became one of the youngest members ever accepted into the famed institution.
Parker’s screen debut came in 1983 on the soap opera “As the World Turns.” Two years later, he secured a breakout role as Pete, an ill-fated greaser, in “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning” (1985). The sequel established him as an emerging talent in Hollywood and led to larger opportunities.
He went on to appear in films such as Kim Basinger’s “9 1/2 Weeks” (1986), Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues” (1988) with Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken, “Big Man on Campus” (1989), “Encino Woman” (1996), and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rainmaker” (1997). His work also included “White Palace” and the British miniseries “The Lost Language of Cranes” (1991), a performance colleagues praised in online tributes after his death.
Television became Parker’s most consistent platform through the 1990s and 2000s. In 1992, he co-starred with Téa Leoni on the Fox sitcom “Flying Blind,” playing Neil Barash, a nervous college grad trying to navigate a relationship with Leoni’s free-spirited Alicia. The single-season series featured guest appearances by Lisa Kudrow, Peter Boyle, Andy Dick, and Noah Emmerich.
Parker’s standout TV role came during his five-episode stint on NBC’s hit sitcom “Will & Grace”, where he portrayed Josh, one of Grace’s artistic boyfriends in seasons two and three. The part highlighted Parker’s comedic instincts and his rapport with Debra Messing and the ensemble cast.
His broad television résumé also included roles on “The New Leave It to Beaver,” “Thirtysomething,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Nashville,” and “Love Boat: The Next Wave.” On the “Love Boat” revival, which ran for two seasons from 1998 to 1999 on UPN, Parker played Dr. John Morgan, the ship’s physician.
Later in life, Parker moved behind the scenes as a respected acting coach, sharing his expertise with emerging actors. Starting in 2000, he taught at Duke University, Rhodes College, and the University of Memphis. He served as acting coach on CMT’s “Sun Records” in 2017 and the Disney+ Marvel series “Ms. Marvel” in 2022. His students earned Tony, SAG, and Emmy Awards.
Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia, who had known Parker for 45 years since their early days at Ensemble Studio Theater in New York, honored him as both an artist and mentor. She said Parker had been “a massive part of my creative work, my creative family, for decades,” praising his teaching talent, generosity, and dedication to storytelling.
Parker’s mother, Rocky Parker, was an actress and acting coach who gained public attention for her marriage to Patrick Dempsey. They married in August 1987 and divorced in 1994. Rocky died of throat and lung cancer in 2014. Noelle, Parker’s sister, also pursued acting, and the family’s artistic roots heavily influenced his development as both an actor and teacher.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by his students detailed the severity of Parker’s illness. He was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 metastatic cancer after hip replacement surgery in fall 2025, when pathology results revealed widespread disease. In his final update on February 17, 2026, Parker shared that he was preparing for hospice care.
Throughout his four decades in the industry, Parker was celebrated not only for his range across horror, comedy, and drama but also for his kindness and dedication to guiding young performers. He once remarked, “I think actors are the gold mine, the source of authenticity and creativity.” Parker is survived by his wife Angela, his sister Noelle, and his brother David. Colleagues and students remembered him for his generosity, humor, and deep love of storytelling—a legacy carried on by the many actors he trained over his remarkable career.
