Corey Parker, the versatile artist who captured television audiences through his role on “Will & Grace” and launched his film journey in the beloved classic “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,” has died at age 60 following a cancer diagnosis.
Parker’s death occurred on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee, according to reports from relatives. Emily Parker, his aunt, verified his death to TMZ, while his sister Noelle Parker and close friend Risa Bramon Garcia shared memorial posts on Instagram during the weekend.
“I believe he left this world weightless, at peace & surrounded with love,” Noelle Parker said in her touching tribute to her brother.
Parker was born on July 8, 1965, in New York City and began his professional journey at five years old, initially working in television advertisements before enrolling at Manhattan’s prestigious High School of Performing Arts. As the child of actress Rochelle “Rocky” Parker and John David Haas, he was immersed in the world of entertainment from an early age. At 13, he trained under Actors Studio teachers, and by 20, he joined the renowned organization as one of its youngest-ever members.
Parker made his initial screen appearance in 1983 on the daytime drama “As the World Turns.” In 1985, he landed a notable part as Pete, a doomed greaser character, in “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning.” This horror sequel positioned him as a rising star in the industry and opened doors to bigger roles.
His subsequent film work included appearances in Kim Basinger’s “9 1/2 Weeks” (1986), Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues” (1988) alongside Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken, “Big Man on Campus” (1989), “Encino Woman” (1996), and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rainmaker” (1997). His filmography also featured “White Palace” and the BBC TV movie “The Lost Language of Cranes” (1991), a role that colleagues highlighted in their online remembrances following his passing.
Parker found his most steady work in television during the 1990s and 2000s. In 1992, he starred alongside Téa Leoni in the Fox comedy series “Flying Blind,” taking on the role of Neil Barash, an anxious recent graduate attempting to maintain a romance with Leoni’s carefree character Alicia. The one-season show featured guest stars including Lisa Kudrow, Peter Boyle, Andy Dick, and Noah Emmerich.
His most memorable television work came through his five-episode arc on NBC’s popular comedy “Will & Grace,” playing Josh, one of Grace’s bohemian romantic interests during the second and third seasons. This role showcased Parker’s talent for comedy and his chemistry with Debra Messing and the rest of the cast.
His extensive television credits also featured parts in “The New Leave It to Beaver,” “Thirtysomething,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Nashville,” and “Love Boat: The Next Wave.” In the “Love Boat” reboot, which aired for two seasons between 1998 and 1999 on UPN, Parker portrayed Dr. John Morgan, the vessel’s medical officer.
In his later years, Parker transitioned to working behind the camera as an accomplished acting instructor, passing on his knowledge to aspiring performers. Beginning in 2000, he held teaching positions at Duke University, Rhodes College, and the University of Memphis. He worked as an acting coach for CMT’s “Sun Records” in 2017 and the Disney+ Marvel production “Ms. Marvel” in 2022. His protégés received Tony, SAG, and Emmy Awards.
Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia, who had been friends with Parker for 45 years since meeting at Ensemble Studio Theater in New York, paid tribute to him as both a performer and instructor. She described how Parker had been “a massive part of my creative work, my creative family, for decades,” commending his abilities as a teacher, his selflessness, and his commitment to the craft.
Rocky Parker, Parker’s mother, worked as an actress, director and talent manager who became publicly known through her union with Patrick Dempsey. Their marriage took place in August 1987 and ended in divorce in 1994. Rocky passed away from throat and lung cancer in 2014. Parker’s sister Noelle also chose an acting career, and the family’s creative background significantly shaped his evolution as both a performer and educator.
A GoFundMe fundraiser created by his pupils described the seriousness of Parker’s condition. He received a diagnosis of advanced stage 4 metastatic cancer following hip replacement surgery in the fall of 2024, when pathology showed the disease had spread extensively. In his last message on February 17, 2026, Parker revealed that he was preparing for hospice care.
During his 40-year career in entertainment, Parker earned recognition not just for his versatility across horror, comedy, and drama genres but also for his compassion and commitment to mentoring aspiring actors. He once stated, “I think actors are the gold mine, the source of authenticity and creativity.” Parker leaves behind his wife Angela, his sister Noelle, and his brother David. Friends and pupils remembered him for his kindness, wit, and profound passion for the art of storytelling—a heritage preserved through the numerous performers he mentored throughout his distinguished career.