Corey Parker, known to horror fans for his role in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, has passed away. He was 60 years old.
Per TMZ, Parker died on on Thursday in Memphis, Tennessee. According to his aunt, Emily Parker, the actor passed away due to an unspecified type of cancer. The acting studio he was involved with, BGB Studios, also posted a message of tribute on Instagram honoring Parker.
“I believe he left this world weightless, at peace & surrounded by love,” his sister, Noelle, said of her late brother.
Parker had a role as one of the victims of the Jason Voorhees copycat killer, Roy Burns, in the fifth Friday the 13th movie. He played Pete, one of two greasers who became Roy’s first two victims. After his pal Vinnie (Anthony Barrile) is killed with a flare, Parker’s Pete sits in his car where he is attacked from behind, killed with a knife by Roy.
The role was one of the first for Parker, who would also become an acting coach later in life. Outside of the horror genre, he may be best known for his recurring role as Josh, Grace’s boyfriend, in the hit sitcom Will & Grace.
Additionally, Parker starred in the early 90s sitcom Flying Blind alongside Tea Leoni. He played a doctor on Love Boat: The Next Wave, with other TV roles including Thirtysomething, Eddie Dodd, and Blue Skies. His finale roles were in 2017, which saw him appear in the TV show Sun Records and the short film Winding Brook.
“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,” Parkers acting students wrote in a message posted to a GoFundMe to assist Parker with medical expenses before his death. “For years, Corey has been our cheerleader, mentor, and inspiration, shaping our careers and changing our lives in ways we could never have imagined.”
Rest in peace, Corey Parker.
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