Actor Corey Parker, best known to television audiences as Josh — one of Grace’s recurring boyfriends on the hit NBC sitcom Will & Grace — has died at the age of 60. He passed away on Thursday, March 5, in Memphis, Tennessee, following a battle with cancer. The news sent waves through the entertainment community, where Corey Parker was remembered not only for his screen work but for the decades he spent shaping the careers of younger performers as an acting coach and mentor.
From his early days in horror films to his warm comedic presence on network television, Parker built a career that was quietly extraordinary — spanning more than four decades and touching virtually every corner of American entertainment.
If you grew up watching the shows and films that defined American pop culture from the 1980s through the 2000s, share your favorite Corey Parker memory in the comments below.
A New York Kid Who Was Born to Act
Corey Parker was born on July 8, 1965, in New York City, to actress Rochelle “Rocky” Parker. He was not someone who stumbled into the craft — he was practically raised inside it. By the time he was four years old, he was already appearing in television commercials. As a teenager, he enrolled at New York’s High School of Performing Arts, the same storied institution that produced generations of Broadway and Hollywood talent.
From there, Parker trained seriously with teachers connected to the Actors Studio. The foundation he built in those early years was evident in everything he did on screen — a naturalism and specificity that set him apart from actors who simply showed up and delivered lines.
The Horror Franchise That Launched His Career
Parker’s first major film role came in 1985, when he was cast as Pete in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, the fifth installment in one of the most iconic horror franchises in Hollywood history. The role introduced him to a massive audience and gave him instant genre credibility. He followed that performance with an appearance in the Kim Basinger romantic drama 9½ Weeks in 1986, an early sign that he had no interest in being boxed into one type of role.
In 1988, director Mike Nichols cast him in Biloxi Blues, the acclaimed film adaptation of Neil Simon’s beloved play. Parker appeared alongside Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken, and his performance stood out in a film full of strong work. The role showcased a comic range that would serve him well throughout his career on television.
The Sitcom Roles That Made Him a Household Name
Parker became a recognizable face on American television during the late 1980s and 1990s. He appeared in a recurring role on the critically praised ABC drama Thirtysomething, playing Lee Owens, the young boyfriend of Melissa Steadman. In 1992, he landed a starring role on the Fox romantic comedy Flying Blind, opposite Téa Leoni. Parker played Neil Barash, an awkward recent college graduate falling into an unexpected relationship with Leoni’s free-spirited character. The series featured guest appearances from Lisa Kudrow, Peter Boyle, Andy Dick, and Noah Emmerich. Though Flying Blind lasted only one season, it built a devoted fan base and later found new life in reruns.
Other television credits included Touched by an Angel, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Nashville, Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story, Eddie Dodd, and Blue Skies, among many others.
Five Episodes That Will & Grace Fans Never Forgot
For a generation of NBC viewers, Parker is best remembered for his recurring role as Josh on Will & Grace, the landmark sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2006. Introduced in Season 2, Josh was a bohemian type who dated Grace, played by Debra Messing. Parker appeared in five episodes across Seasons 2 and 3, and his chemistry with Messing gave the show some of its warmest and most genuinely funny moments.
It was a supporting role in the traditional sense, but Parker brought enough depth and humor to Josh that the character left a real impression. Fans of the show still remember him as one of the more likable people Grace ever dated — no small thing on a series known for memorable recurring characters.
A Dedicated Teacher in His Later Years
In the final chapter of his career, Parker poured his energy into coaching the next generation of actors. He served as an acting coach on the CMT series Sun Records and on Ms. Marvel for Marvel Studios. He also taught at universities and acting conservatories across the country.
His private coaching clients included some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion. He helped young actors gain acceptance into top drama programs, and students he mentored went on to earn Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. In July of 2025, Parker celebrated turning 60 after fighting cancer, posting publicly about his gratitude and his excitement about returning to coaching. It was a moment of hard-won joy from a man who clearly loved his work and the people around him.
A Family That Loved Him Deeply
Parker’s mother, actress Rochelle “Rocky” Parker, who had been briefly married to Patrick Dempsey in the late 1980s and early 1990s, passed away in 2014. His sister Noelle, also an actress, released a deeply personal tribute following his death. In her statement, she described knowing and loving Corey for 45 years, calling him a central figure in her creative life and family. She spoke of his passion, his generosity, his talent, and his extraordinary gift for teaching. She closed by saying his impact would carry on in everyone he had ever touched.
Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia also paid tribute publicly, celebrating his talent and his devotion to the art and the people around him.
A Legacy That Will Last
Corey Parker was 60 years old when he died. He leaves behind a body of work that stretches from slasher films to prestige network drama to beloved sitcoms, and a legacy of mentorship that will continue through every actor he ever coached. He was someone who gave everything to his craft — on screen, off screen, and in every classroom where he ever stood in front of a student.
If Corey Parker’s work ever made you laugh, moved you, or inspired you to pursue your own creative path, drop a comment and share what he meant to you — his story deserves to be heard.
