“Corey has been our cheerleader, mentor, and inspiration, shaping our careers and changing our lives,” his students wrote on GoFundMe
Credit: Corey Parker/Instagram;Randy Tepper /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Corey Parker, best known for his roles in Will & Grace and Love Boat: The Next Wave, died at the age of 60 on March 5
- The actor was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer
- Parker shared in a final update on GoFundMe on Feb. 17 that his cancer was “terminal” and he was preparing for hospice
Corey Parker, the Will & Grace alum and a beloved acting coach, has died following a terminal cancer diagnosis. He was 60.
Emily Parker, the actor’s aunt, confirmed to TMZ that Corey died from cancer on Thursday, March 5, in Memphis, Tenn.
Corey had previously been diagnosed with advanced Stage 4 metastatic cancer, according to a GoFundMe set up to raise funds to support his family. According to the fundraising page, the actor discovered the cancer after he underwent hip replacement surgery.
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The actor shared in various statements, posted as updates by fundraiser organizer Marissa Hoisington, on the GoFundMe throughout 2025. In one update, Corey said that while his body initially responded to medication, the cancer had slowly spread.
In a November 2025 update, Corey wrote that the “90%” of his bones were covered with adenocarcinoma, which is a type of cancer that starts in the glands that line a person’s organs, according to Cleveland Clinic.
In January 2026, Corey wrote that the cancer was “wearing down my body to the point where I can no longer function properly” and he was unable to “fully engage in speech” and had “lost the ability to write and type.”
In a final update shared on Feb. 17, Corey described the cancer as “terminal” and shared that he underwent radiation that had been intended to "reduce the pain from the cancer in my arm and in my hips,” but it ended up impacting his “esophagus, my ability to speak and my overall orientation.” He also wrote at this time that his family had been preparing the house for hospice.
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“I cannot thank you enough for all of the love and care. Your donations have made such a huge difference in our life and have allowed me to rest a little easier knowing that our needs are being met even while I can no longer have income,” Corey wrote.
Corey, who was born and raised in New York City, began working as an actor at the age of 5, and training with teachers from the Actors Studio at 14-years-old. He later graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan.
He put the knowledge to work in the 1980s, earning an uncredited role on the daytime TV show, As the World Turns. He then popped up in other shows during the decade such as The New Leave It to Beaver, At Mother’s Request, The Bronx Zoo and CBS Summer Playhouse. He also starred in the film Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning.
The actor began to earn bigger roles in the 1990s, with stints on the TV shows, Thirtysomething, Eddie Dodd, Flying Blind and Blue Skies, before landing a role as Doctor John Morgan on Love Boat: The Next Wave.
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After that series ended, he had a recurring role on Will & Grace as Josh, the meek and environmentally conscious boyfriend of Debra Messing’s character, Grace Adler. He also starred in an episode of Nashville. His last roles were in the TV series, Sun Records, and short film Winding Brook, which were both released in 2017.
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Corey continued to leave his impact on the acting world by becoming an acting coach in 2000. According to the GoFundMe, his acting students have gone on to win Tony Awards, SAG Awards and Emmy Awards.
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“Corey has a unique gift — he reminds us that we are enough. That we are worthy. Through his guidance and training, countless actors have not only grown in their craft, but have also rediscovered their confidence, power, and self-worth,” his students wrote on the GoFundMe.
“For years, Corey has been our cheerleader, mentor, and inspiration, shaping our careers and changing our lives in ways we could never have imagined,” they added.
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