Corey Parker, a Will & Grace alum and respected acting coach, has died after battling terminal cancer. He was 60.
According to TMZ, Parker’s aunt, Emily Parker, confirmed that the actor died on Thursday, March 5, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Parker had previously been diagnosed with advanced Stage 4 metastatic cancer, according to a GoFundMe created to help support his family during the illness. The fundraising page said the cancer was discovered after he underwent hip replacement surgery.
Per People, Corey Parker shared heartbreaking updates about his health in the months before his death.
In November 2025, he revealed that about “90%” of his bones were affected by adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in the glandular cells lining organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
By January 2026, Parker said the disease had severely weakened him, leaving him unable to function normally. He explained that he could no longer fully engage in speech and had lost the ability to write or type.
In a final update on Feb. 17, Parker described his condition as terminal. He said radiation treatments intended to ease pain in his arm and hips had also affected his esophagus, speech and overall awareness. At that point, he shared that his family had begun preparing their home for hospice care.
Per TMZ, Corey Parker began his acting career in the mid-1980s, first gaining attention with the role of Pete in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. He soon followed with a small part in the Kim Basinger film 9½ Weeks.
In 1992, Parker landed a starring role in the sitcom Flying Blind, playing Neil Barash, a shy recent college graduate who begins dating Téa Leoni’s free-spirited character, Alicia. Many viewers also remember him for his recurring role as Josh, one of Grace’s boyfriends, in five episodes of the hit sitcom Will & Grace.
His other acting credits included Biloxi Blues, White Palace, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Nashville and Blue Skies. Later in his career, Parker transitioned into coaching, working as an acting coach and advisor on projects such as Sun Records and Ms. Marvel.
Parker also came from a creative family. His mother, Rocky Parker—an actress who was briefly married to Patrick Dempsey—worked in the industry, as did his sister, Noelle. Rocky Parker died in 2014.
