Roy L. Dennis

Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis (1961-1978 ) was an American boy afflicted with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, an extremely rare, disfiguring, sclerotic bone disorder. The condition usually results in neurological disorders and death during childhood. His body was donated to UCLA Medical Center after he died. [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9050 Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis (1961 - 1978) - Find A Grave Memorial ] ]

Biography

Rocky Dennis was born in Glendora, California, to mother Florence "Rusty" Tullis and father Roy Dennis. At the age of 2, Rocky was diagnosed with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, also known as CDD or lionitis, an extremely rare disease occuring in approximately 1 in every 22 million births, with less than 20 recorded cases. It is a bone disorder that causes calcium to build up in the skull, disfiguring the facial features and reducing life expectancy.

The doctors told his mother that the abnormal calcium deposits in his skull would push his eyes toward the edges of his head and twist his nose out of shape, his eyesight and hearing would fail and, that if the handful of cases on record were any indication, the tremendous pressure would destroy his brain before he was 7.

Rocky, however, lived to the age of 16 and, although he did experience problems with eyesight and hearing along with painful headaches, he was able to do most of the things doctors told him he would never accomplish, such as learn to read. They told him that his poor eyesight, which made him legally blind, meant that he would never read a book; however, at the age of 16, he became a student of the Sandburg Junior High School (despite obvious disapproval by many teachers) and although experiencing a slow start (he spent two years in the first grade), he was able to make excellent progress thereafter, becoming a straight-A student, and eventually graduating with honors.

With much encouragement from his mother and her biker friends, Rocky strived to live his shortened life to the fullest.

Rusty Dennis died on November 11, 2006 as result of injuries due to a motorcycle related accident. Rusty showed that she carried on her biker spirit, which was also seen in her son through his love for motorcycles. Rusty was 70 years old. Rocky also had an older brother, Joshua, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 32 from complications related to AIDS contracted from a blood transfusion. Joshua was never mentioned or characterized in the film "Mask".

"Mask"

Anna Hamilton Phelan wrote a screenplay based loosely on Rocky's life; Peter Bogdanovich directed the 1985 film, entitled "Mask", in which Eric Stoltz portrays Rocky. The film was a dramatic depiction of his life, showing him as a mature, fun-loving, kind and thoughtful youth who had many dreams and lots of ambition.

In one scene in the film, the character Rocky reads a poem to his mother, Rusty (played by Cher), written by the real Dennis himself:

"These things are good:
"Ice cream and cake,"
"A ride on a Harley,"
"Seeing monkeys on a tree",
"The rain on my tongue,"
"And the sun shining on my face."

"These things are a drag:"
"Dust on my hair,"
"Holes in my shoes,"
"No money in my pocket,"
"And the sun shining on my face."

The movie originally was to feature music by Bruce Springsteen (Rocky's favorite artist), but due to problems with the record company a different soundtrack had to be used. Most other parts of the movie are very loosely based on Rocky's life, with most of the scenes and dialogue being altered for dramatic purposes.

For example, the film shows Rusty at Rocky's gravesite; however, the real Rocky was not buried (as mentioned earlier, when Rocky died, his mother donated his body to UCLA for medical research). The dates of birth and death on the tombstone are also incorrect.

Pop Culture references

Phelan also adapted her screenplay into a stage musical (also titled "Mask"), with music by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The musical premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse in California on March 12, 2008.

Swedish pop musician Jens Lekman published "Rocky Dennis in Heaven", an EP containing four songs about Rocky and his portrayal in the film.

In the Family Guy episode Peter's Got Woods the cast of Star Trek appears and Captain Picard makes a remark to Worf about his looks. When Worf reacts negatively, Captain Picard then says "Oh, get a sense of humor, Rocky Dennis!"

In the South Park episode Freak Strike, a character looking alot like Rocky Dennis can be seen in the crowd of freaks protesting the Maury Povich show.

In the Family Guy episode "Petarded", Peter tells Lois that she looks worse than "that Rocky Dennis kid from "Mask". The scene then cuts to a clip from the movie (see above).

External links

* [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/11/20/florence_rusty_tullis_70_portrayed_by_cher_in_mask/ Boston Globe Obituary: Florence "Rusty" Tullis; portrayed by Cher in 'Mask']

Lauren Husband

References