Corey Parker, an American actor known for his appearances in the TV series Will & Grace and Love Boat: The Next Wave, passed away on March 5, 2026, at the age of 60 after battling cancer. His death was confirmed by his aunt, Emily Parker. He died in Memphis, Tennessee, after being diagnosed with advanced Stage 4 metastatic cancer, a serious condition that had spread throughout his body.
Parker’s illness became publicly known through a GoFundMe page created to help support him and his family. According to updates shared there during 2025 and early 2026, the actor initially responded to treatment, but the cancer continued to spread. By late 2025, doctors reported that around 90% of his bones were affected by adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in glandular tissues.
In early 2026, Parker shared that the disease had weakened him significantly, making it difficult for him to speak, write, or function normally. Despite undergoing radiation treatment to reduce pain in his arms and hips, the illness continued to progress. In a final update in February 2026, he described his condition as terminal and said his family was preparing their home for hospice care while he expressed gratitude to supporters for their love and donations.
Born and raised in New York City, Parker began acting at the age of five and trained with teachers from the Actors Studio as a teenager. Over the years, he appeared in several television shows including Thirtysomething, Eddie Dodd, and Flying Blind, as well as the film Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. Later in his career, he became a respected acting coach, mentoring many performers who went on to win major awards such as the Tony, SAG, and Emmy Awards, leaving a lasting legacy in the acting community.