Rocky Parker was an actress, director, and former model who was best known for her roles in movies such as Can’t Buy Me Love, In the Mood, and Happy Together. She was also the ex-wife of Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey, whom she married when he was 21 and she was 47. However, her life was cut short by a deadly disease that claimed her life in 2014. What was Rocky Parker’s cause of death and how did she cope with it? Here is a brief overview of her life and death.
Early Life and Career
Rocky Parker was born on February 26, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, as Rochelle Natalie Parker. She was the daughter of actress Shirley Parker and her husband Bernard Parker. She grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and attended Martin Van Buren High School. She developed an interest in acting from a young age and started modeling in magazines such as True Romance.
She made her acting debut as an extra in various projects and later landed roles in plays and movies. Some of her notable works include The Twilight Zone, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, The Wild Wild West, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Magnum P.I., Murder, She Wrote, L.A. Law, and ER. She also directed a short film called The Audition in 1989.
Marriages and Relationships
Rocky Parker was married three times in her life. Her first husband was Sheldon Leonard Stein, whom she married on August 21, 1958. They had a son named David Alan Stein (later known as David Parker) on August 14, 1959. They divorced sometime later.
Her second husband was John David Haas, whom she married in 1964. They had a son named Corey Parker Haas (later known as Corey Parker) on July 8, 1965. Haas died in April 1968, leaving Rocky a widow.
Her third husband was Patrick Dempsey, whom she met in 1984 when they were both starring in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway. She played his character’s aunt in the production. They started dating after the rehearsals and got married on August 24, 1987. At the time, Dempsey was 21 and Parker was 47. They kept their marriage a secret for a few years due to their huge age difference.
However, their marriage was not a happy one. In 1994, Parker filed for divorce from Dempsey, citing irreconcilable differences. She also accused him of physically abusing her on several occasions, causing her injuries and arthritis. She later retracted her allegations after reaching a settlement with him. They finalized their divorce on April 26, 1994.
Parker also had a daughter named Noelle Parker with Nick Ferri, whom she never married. She gave birth to her on December 25, 1971.
Death and Legacy
Rocky Parker died on April 19, 2014, at the age of 74, as a result of cancer. According to IBTimes, she had advanced beyond the fourth stage of lung and throat cancer She allegedly contracted the disease owing to a lifetime of cigarette smoking. She passed away in Los Angeles, California.
She is survived by her three children and six grandchildren. Her ex-husband Patrick Dempsey did not comment publicly on her death but reportedly paid for her funeral expenses.
Rocky Parker was a talented and beautiful woman who had a passion for acting and directing. She faced many challenges and tragedies in her life but never gave up on her dreams. She left behind a legacy of films and TV shows that entertained millions of viewers around the world. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a talented actress.
