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Who was Rocky Parker?
The late American actress, acting coach and manager Rochelle ‘Rocky’ Parker was born under the zodiac sign Pisces on 26 February 1940, in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City. She had just four acting credits, and is perhaps still remembered best for playing Woman on Train in the 1987 romantic comedy movie “In the Mood”, which starred Talia Balsam and Patrick Dempsey, and was written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson. It follows 14 years old ‘Woo Woo Kid’ who’s run away from home to marry two older women; this was also Rocky’s debut film appearance.
She’s also remembered for having been the first wife of famous American actor and racing driver Patrick Galen Dempsey; he was 21 when they exchanged vows, while Rocky was 48.
Rocky died aged 78 on 19 April 2014, after having battled lung and throat cancer for many years.
Education and early life
Rocky was raised in Brooklyn by her father Bernard Parker and mother Shirley Parker; Bernard was a businessman while Shirley was an actress, and because Rocky never spoke about having siblings, it’s believed that she was an only child.
She fell in love with acting while attending Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, appearing in nearly all the plays performed at the school and often watching Broadway shows. Rocky was passionate about a couple of other activities during her teenage years, as she took dance lessons, practiced creative writing and played various sports with her peers.
She matriculated in 1958, and then began pursuing her career rather than enrolling at college; Rocky left the film industry upon marrying Patrick so that she could help with his career, but later revealed that she regretted the decision.
Acting credits
Rocky appeared in four movies and no TV series. The year 1989 saw her play both Librarian and Biker’s Girlfriend in the popular romantic comedy “Happy Together”, which starred Helen Slater, Dan Schneider and Patrick Dempsey, and was directed by Mel Damski. It follows wannabe author Chris who’s enrolled at UCLA, and has fallen in love with his roommate Alex.
In 2002, Rocky voiced AAA Guns in the comedy “Hung Up on Elena”, which starred Ester Dwindell and Matthew Fulchiron, and was written and directed by Randy Bobbitt; it follows two young adults who’ve fallen in love.
Her only other role was portraying Elderly woman in the 2008 family comedy “The Rainbow Tribe”, which starred Grayson Russell, Ed Quinn and David James Elliott, and was directed by Christopher R. Watson. It follows a group of children as they’re staying at a summer camp, and are helping their counselor overcome his personal crisis.
Other credits
Rocky worked as an assistant to her then-husband Patrick on the 1987 romantic comedy movie “Can’t Buy Me Love”, which starred Patrick and Amanda Peterson, and was directed by Steve Rash. It follows a high school outcast who’s paid the most popular girl in school $1,000 to pretend to be his girlfriend; the film won one of its four award nominations.
The year 1988 saw Rocky work as an acting coach on the popular fantasy comedy movie “Some Girls”, which starred Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly and Sheila Kelley, and was directed by Michael Hoffman. It follows Michael as he’s visiting his girlfriend and her dysfunctional family in French Canada, and the movie won a 1988 Vancouver International Film Festival Award for Most Popular Film.
Rocky went on to direct the 1994 family comedy film “Ava’s Magical Adventure”, which starred Kaye Ballard and Michael J. Anderson, and was written by Mark Twain (original) and Patrick J. Clifton. It follows a 10 years old girl who’s run away from home to be with her best friend who happens to be a two-ton circus elephant.
Rocky received special thanks for the 1991 action thriller movie “Run”, which starred her then-husband Patrick and Kelly Preston, and was directed by Geoff Burrowes; it follows a law student who’s inadvertently killed the son of a mob boss.
Rocky was also featured in the 1990 TV special “Commitment to Life IV: Los Angeles AIDS Project Benefit”.
Love life and husband
Rocky was married three times. She married non-celebrity American Sheldon Leonard Stein on 21 August 1958, when she was 18 years old, and gave birth to their son David Alan on 14 August 1959; the date of their divorce remains undisclosed.
Her second husband was non-celebrity American man John Haas; they exchanged vows in 1964, Rocky gave birth to their child Corey Parker Haas, and the marriage ended when John died in 1968.
She was then in a relationship with businessman Nick Ferri, and gave birth to their child Noelle Parker on 25 December 1971.
Rocky and Patrick Dempsey married in a private ceremony on 24 August 1987, and their divorce was finalized on 26 April 1994. Patrick married Jillian Fink on 31 July 1999 and today has three children with her.
Rocky was unattached at the time of her passing, had been married thrice and had three children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Rocky’s marriage with Patrick wasn’t a happy one – it’s widely believed that she was physically abused by him; she once stated that he hit her so hard that she injured her hand and developed arthritis. They had a long divorce battle.
She was into modelling at the beginning of her career and appeared in a couple of commercials.
Rocky was passionate about travelling, and visited various countries all around the world; she met some of the most popular actors and it’s widely believed that she dated some of them but this remains unconfirmed.
One of Rocky’s favorite actresses was Audrey Hepburn, and some of her favorite movies were “Roman Holliday”, “My Fair Lady” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
Fact #367😱
"When Patrick Dempsey was 21, he married 48 year old Rocky Parker. Rocky was not olny his manager, but his best friend's mother. The relationship did not last and Patrick remarried."#GreysAnatomy #facts @PatrickDempsey pic.twitter.com/8MlUd1b3Eo— ga facts (@Azrobbxjesscap) March 30, 2018
Appearance and net worth
Rocky would’ve been 83 today. She had brown hair and eyes, weighed around 130lbs (60kgs) and was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall.
Rocky’s net worth at the time of her passing was estimated at over $1 million.
