Age, Family, Children, Death, BIO

Rocky Parker (born 26 February 1940 – died 19 April 2014, Aged: 74 years old) was an American actress and former model who was best known for her marriage to Patrick Dempsey, the star of Grey’s Anatomy. The couple had a 26-year age gap and divorced in 1994 after a bitter and controversial split. Parker died in 2014 from lung and throat cancer. Here is a detailed look at her life and career.

Education

Rocky grew up surrounded by the glamour and excitement of the theater world and developed a passion for acting at a young age. She attended Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, where she participated in drama club and school plays. She also learned to juggle and model and posed for magazines such as True Romance and Virginia Slims. She was the shortest one in her family, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall.

After graduating from high school, Rocky Parker enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she studied acting and theater. She also took classes at the Actors Studio, where she learned from legendary teachers such as Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Sanford Meisner. She honed her skills and techniques and made connections with other aspiring actors. She also auditioned for various roles, and landed her first Broadway gig in 1959, playing the role of Aunt Blanche in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs.

First Marriage and Children

Rocky married her first husband, Sheldon Leonard Stein, on August 21, 1958, when she was 18 years old. He was a businessman and a former Marine. They had their first child, David Alan, on August 14, 1959, when Rocky was 19. They later divorced, and Rocky married her second husband, John Haas, in 1964. He was a writer and a producer, and they had a son together, Corey Parker Haas, in 1965.

Corey followed his mother’s footsteps and became an actor, appearing in films and TV shows such as Biloxi Blues, thirtysomething, and Will & Grace. Rocky also had a daughter, Noelle Parker, with a man named Nick Ferri, whom she never married. Noelle was born on December 25, 1971, and also became an actress, starring in films such as Ernest Saves Christmas and The Final Terror.

Acting Career

Rocky began her acting career in the 1950s, appearing in various stage productions and TV shows. She made her Broadway debut in 1959, playing the role of Aunt Blanche in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs. She also appeared in other plays, such as The Odd Couple, The Sunshine Boys, and The Prisoner of Second Avenue. She made her film debut in 1960, playing a minor role in the comedy The Bellboy, starring Jerry Lewis.

She also had small roles in films such as The Minx, The April Fools, and The Out-of-Towners. She continued to work in film and TV throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in shows such as The Love Boat, The Rockford Files, and Murder, She Wrote. She also had a recurring role as Mrs. Webster in the sitcom Webster, starring Emmanuel Lewis and Alex Karras.

Rocky Parker’s Marriage to Patrick Dempsey

Rocky met Patrick Dempsey in 1984 when they were both cast in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway. She played the role of Aunt Blanche, while he played the role of Eugene, her nephew. They started spending time together after rehearsals and fell in love despite the 26-year age difference between them. Rocky was 44, and Patrick was 18. They got married on August 24, 1987, in a private ceremony. Rocky became Patrick’s manager and helped him launch his film career. He starred in films such as Can’t Buy Me Love, Loverboy, and Happy Together, becoming a teen idol and a heartthrob.

However, their marriage was not a happy one, as they faced many problems and conflicts. Rocky accused Patrick of cheating on her with other women and also claimed that he physically abused her on several occasions. She alleged that he broke her finger in a car door, and that he hit her so hard on the set of Can’t Buy Me Love that she developed arthritis. Patrick denied the allegations and said that Rocky was jealous and controlling. They separated in 1991 and filed for divorce in 1993. The divorce was finalized in 1994, after a long and bitter legal battle. Rocky received a settlement of $6 million from Patrick, as well as a share of his future earnings.

Rocky Parker Wiki/BIO

NameRocky Parker
Birth nameRochelle Natalie Parker
Date of birthFebruary 26, 1940
Place of birthBrooklyn, New York, USA
Date of deathApril 19, 2014
Place of deathLos Angeles, California, USA
Cause of deathLung and throat cancer
ProfessionActress, model, acting coach, manager
SpousesSheldon Leonard Stein (1958-1960), John David Haas (1964-1968), Patrick Dempsey (1987-1994)
ChildrenDavid Alan Stein, Corey Parker Haas, Noelle Parker
IMDbnm0662585
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Later Life and Death

After her divorce from Patrick, Rocky continued to work as an actress and an acting coach. She appeared in films such as Enchanted, Flypaper, and The Escape, and also had a cameo in Grey’s Anatomy, playing a patient who flirted with Patrick’s character, Derek Shepherd. She also taught acting classes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and mentored many aspiring actors. She remained close to her children and grandchildren and enjoyed traveling and gardening.

She also dated other men but never remarried. In 2012, she was diagnosed with lung and throat cancer, after being a heavy smoker for most of her life. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, but the cancer spread to other parts of her body. She died on April 19, 2014, at the age of 74, in Los Angeles, California. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

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Birthday and Age

Rocky Parker was born on February 26, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Her full name was Rochelle Natalie Parker. She died on April 19, 2014, in Los Angeles, California, USA, due to complications of lung and throat cancer. She was 74 years old at the time of her death.

Rocky Parker was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, USA. She came from a family of actors, as her parents, Bernard and Shirley Parker, were both involved in show business. Her mother was an actress who appeared in films such as Mission Mars and The Minx, while her father was a stage manager and producer. Parker’s religion is not known for sure, but some sources suggest that she was Jewish, based on her surname and her parents’ names.

However, there is no definitive evidence to confirm or deny this speculation. Rocky never publicly spoke about her religious beliefs or practices. Parker’s zodiac sign was Pisces, the fish. Parker had a happy and adventurous childhood, thanks to her involvement in the show business.

She often accompanied her parents to their rehearsals and performances and learned from their experiences and advice. She also inherited their talent and charisma and impressed them with her natural ability to juggle and model. She posed for magazines such as True Romance and Virginia Slims. She was the shortest one in her family, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall. She also enjoyed traveling and gardening and remained close to her children and grandchildren.

Parents & Family Background

Rocky Parker was born Rochelle Natalie Parker on February 26, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Shirley and Bernard Parker, who were both involved in show business. Her mother, Shirley Parker, was an actress who appeared in films such as Mission Mars and The Minx, as well as TV shows such as The Twilight Zone and The Fugitive. She was also a singer and a dancer, who performed in nightclubs and Broadway shows.

Her father, Bernard Parker, was a stage manager and producer, who worked on various theatrical productions and TV specials. He was also a writer and a director, who wrote scripts for shows such as The Jackie Gleason Show and The Red Skelton Show. He also directed episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show.

Rocky grew up surrounded by the glamour and excitement of the theater world and developed a passion for acting at a young age. She often accompanied her parents to their rehearsals and performances and learned from their experiences and advice. 

Net Worth & Income

Rocky Parker had a net worth of around $1 million at the time of her death, according to various sources. She earned most of her wealth from her successful career as an actress, model, and acting coach. She appeared in various stage productions, films, and TV shows, such as The Bellboy, The Minx, The Odd Couple, The Sunshine Boys, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Love Boat, The Rockford Files, Murder, She Wrote, Webster, Enchanted, Flypaper, and The Escape. She also had a cameo in Grey’s Anatomy, playing a patient who flirted with Dempsey’s character, Derek Shepherd. She also taught acting classes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and mentored many aspiring actors.

She also received a settlement of $6 million from Dempsey, as well as a share of his future earnings, after their divorce was finalized in 1994. Dempsey, on the other hand, has a net worth of around $65 million as of 2023. 

He is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, earning $350,000 per episode of Grey’s Anatomy. He also starred in films such as Can’t Buy Me Love, Loverboy, Happy Together, Enchanted, Made of Honor, Valentine’s Day, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Bridget Jones’s Baby. He is also a race car driver and a co-owner of Dempsey Racing.

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