Corey Parker Cause of Death: Will & Grace Star Dies at 60 After Stage 4 Cancer Battle
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Corey Parker, the actor beloved by fans of Will & Grace and Friday the 13th. Parker died Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee, after a long and devastating battle with advanced stage 4 metastatic cancer. He was 60 years old.
Corey Parker Cause of Death: Advanced Stage 4 Metastatic Cancer Confirmed
Corey Parker's cause of death was cancer, although the specific type was not specified by his family. His aunt, Emily Parker, confirmed the news to TMZ.
A GoFundMe page launched by his students and friends provided additional details, revealing that Parker had received the devastating diagnosis after hip replacement surgery in the fall of 2025, when bone removed during the procedure was sent to pathology. In a November 2025 update, Parker wrote that roughly 90 percent of his bones were covered with adenocarcinoma — a type of cancer that originates in the glands that line a person's organs.
By January 2026, Parker revealed that radiation treatment had helped reduce pain from the cancer in his arm and hips but had affected his ability to speak and his overall orientation, adding that the cancer was wearing down his body to the point where he could no longer function properly.
Who Was Corey Parker: A Life in Film, Television, and the Classroom
Born Corey Parker Haas on July 8, 1965, in New York City, he began working as an actor at age five, attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, and began training at the Actors Studio by age 14. He later became a lifetime member of both the Actors Studio and the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York and Los Angeles.
Parker got his start in film in the mid-1980s, winning the role of Pete in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning before following that up with a small part in the Kim Basinger romantic drama 9½ Weeks. In 1992, he landed a starring role in the sitcom Flying Blind alongside Téa Leoni, with Lisa Kudrow, Peter Boyle, and Andy Dick also appearing on the show during its one-season run.
Will & Grace fans will remember Parker for his recurring part as Josh — one of Grace's boyfriends — appearing in five episodes of the hit sitcom. His other credits include Biloxi Blues, White Palace, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Nashville, and Blue Skies.
Corey Parker's Second Career as a Beloved Acting Coach
Parker was also an established acting coach, beginning that part of his career in 2000. He served as a coach on the productions Sun Records and Ms. Marvel, while also teaching weekly online classes with BGB Studio and a monthly workshop in Nashville.
The GoFundMe campaign launched on his behalf raised $65,000, with the appeal noting that through his guidance and training, countless actors had not only grown in their craft but had also rediscovered their confidence, power, and self-worth. For years, it said, Corey had been a cheerleader, mentor, and inspiration, shaping careers and changing lives.
One student wrote on Instagram that Parker had reawoken a love for the process of acting through his kind encouragement, insightful creativity, and words of inspiration — calling him a true artist and an amazing teacher.
Family Tributes and Final Words After Corey Parker's Death
Parker is survived by his sister, Noelle Parker, and his brother, David Parker. His mother was actress Rochelle "Rocky" Parker, who was briefly married to actor Patrick Dempsey from 1987 to 1994.
His sister Noelle shared a final statement through BGB Studio's Instagram page, writing that she believed he left this world weightless, at peace, and surrounded by love.
One of Parker's closest collaborators left a tribute that captured the grief felt across his creative community: "He just wanted to see one last spring. This is devastating news, but I'm so glad he's not suffering anymore."
