Melissa Brasselle, known in the entertainment world as Rocky DeMarco, hails from a family that’s no stranger to the spotlight. Her father, Keefe Brasselle, graced the silver screen as an actor, producer, and author, while her mother, Arlene DeMarco, captivated audiences as the lead vocalist of “The Five DeMarco Sisters” and penned bestsellers like Triangle and Make Believe Children.
Taking inspiration from her parents’ multifaceted careers, Brasselle embraced the entertainment industry with open arms. She strode down the runway as a model during her teenage years before diving into a diverse array of roles. Her talents shone through as she took on the hats of an actress, writer, producer, wrestler, stuntwoman, and singer/songwriter.
Her filmography includes memorable performances in Demolition High (1995), The Curse of the Komodo (2006), and Camel Spiders (2011), in which she shared the cinematic stage with her daughter, Hayley Sanchez.
Here Are 10 Fascinating Things You Need To Know About Her
1. Brasselle Is The Youngest Of Her Parents’ Two Daughters
Born on January 27, 1965, in The Bronx, New York City, New York, Melissa Brasselle is the second of Keefe Brasselle and Arlene DeMarco’s two daughters, and she is currently 59 years old. Her older sister, Rosana Braselle, was born sometime in 1965, meaning the age gap between them is just a year.
Regarding her ethnic background, her mother’s family is from Italy, so she has Italian heritage. Her mother gave her the name Racquel, but her friends nicknamed her Rocky because of her toughness and resilience. She uses either Melissa Brasselle or Rocky DeMarco.
2. At The Tender Age Of 2, Her Parents’ 11-Year Marriage Ended
Brasselle’s parents, Arlene DeMarco and Keefe Brasselle, got married in 1956; that was the same year her father’s first marriage with Norma Jean Aldrich ended. In 1967, which was 11 years after her parents tied the knot, they divorced. Besides, the reason for the divorce is unknown.
At the time of the divorce, Melissa was just 2 years old. She didn’t have the opportunity to truly know who her father was. She and her older sister were single-handedly raised by her mother.
3. She Sang In The New York All-City Chorus As A Child
Melissa was born with a beautiful voice, which was to be expected given that her mother was a singer. IMDB revealed that she possessed perfect pitch as a child, capable of harmonizing with any song and playing a variety of instruments without formal instruction.
She was selected for the New York All-City Chorus, and she even played Carnegie Hall.
4. Her Mother Had To Run Tape Around Her Ribs For Her First Professional Photo Shoot At 15
Melissa started her modeling career as a teenager, but she faced many difficulties because of her busty figure. At that time, most models were expected to have a flat chest. However, she managed to land her first professional photo shoot in 1980, when she was only 15 years old.
She posed for the magazine 3M, which sponsored her. Since she was underage, her mother accompanied her to the shoot. Melissa shared on Instagram that her mother had to wrap tape around her ribs to make her look less busty
5. She Was 16 When Her Father Died From Liver Disease
In July 1981, Brasselle’s father, Keefe, succumbed to liver disease at the age of 58. Reports indicate that he spent his final years battling the illness before his life came to a close at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, near Los Angeles. She was just 16 years old at the time of her father’s passing.
Fast forward to August 2015; 34 years after his death, she took to Instagram with a poignant post. She reminisced about one of his most iconic performances in The Eddie Cantor Story (1953). Her heartfelt caption expressed a deep yearning, wishing for the chance to have known him better. This sentiment echoed the earlier revelation that she had little opportunity to forge a relationship with her father due to their separation when she was tender.
See Also-Debby Ryan: 10 Facts About the Actress
6. Melissa Appeared In The 1989 Issue Of Playboy Magazine After Coming Top 5 In Its Nationwide Girls’ Search
Melissa Brasselle was one of the top five finalists in a nationwide search with over 70,000 girls to find new models for Playboy magazine’s “The Girls of the 35th Anniversary Playmate Hunt.” She earned a spot in the 1989 issue, where she posed for the magazine for the first time.
She landed the gig after the photographer, who shot her ad for 3M, entered her in the contest.
7. She Made Her Film Debut In 1994 In Possessed By The Night
Brasselle made a successful transition from modeling to acting. She achieved this by enrolling at the Lee Strasberg Theatrical Institute in New York City, where she received two years of training. She also learned from Weiss-Baron, a school that specialized in soap opera acting.
While studying, she impressed the casting directors who worked for various soap operas, and they offered her roles. That’s how she got her first film role as Trina in Possessed By The Night (1994), a movie directed by Fred Olen Ray.
Her other credits include:
- Munchie Strikes Back (as Band Member): 1994
- The Wasp Woman (as Mary): 1995
- Demolition High (as Tanya): 1996
- Desert Thunder (as Michele Parker): 1998
- Rangers (as Angela): 2000
- Raptor (as Barbara Philips): 2001
- Treasure Hunt (as Miranda): 2003
- The Curse of the Komodo (as Tiffany): 2004
- Vampire In Vegas (as Shayla): 2009
- Camel Spiders (as Sgt. Shelly Underwood): 2011
- Bigfoot or Bust (as Jesse James): 2022
- Cobra Strike Force (as B*tch Face): 2023
- Cocaine Cougar (as Dominque): 2023
8. The Bronx Native Has Never Been Married, But She Has Daughter
Melissa has kept her love life private, but her Facebook bio indicates she is single. She has never been married, but she has dated a few men. She revealed on Instagram that she had a relationship with American actor and filmmaker George Clooney, but she did not mention how long they were together.
She also dated stuntman Rob Sanchez, whom she met on a movie set. They had their only daughter, Hayley Sanchez, on February 9, 1998, who is now 26 years old and has a daughter named Maisie, who was born in September 2022.
Sadly, Rob passed away a few years ago, and Melissa always calls him the absolute love of her life. They had a strong bond and a wonderful relationship when he was alive. He introduced her to stunts, and that’s how she got to perform stunts in 15 Minutes (2001), A Man Apart (2003), and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).
9. She Wrestled For Women of Wrestling (WOW), But She Quit After A Serious Knee Injury
Brasselle tried her hand at wrestling for a company called Women of Wrestling (WOW), which was run by Dave McClaine Enterprises. She trained hard, but she suffered a serious injury before a pay-per-view event that would be televised.
She was matched with a wrestler who weighed 300 pounds, much more than her weight. The wrestler threw and slammed her, and she landed on her knees. She had to have surgery on her left knee.
10. Melissa Planned To Release A Jazz Album In Honor Of Her Mother In 2017, But It Was Delayed
Brasselle is a big fan of jazz music. She is inspired by her mother, Arlene DeMarco, who was the lead vocalist of the legendary singing group “The Five DeMarco Sisters,” as previously stated. Her mother died in 2012, and she wanted to remember her mother by creating a jazz album of all her favorite songs, which is titled DeMarco Legacy.
She launched a crowdfunding campaign to generate funds for the album’s production. The album was meant to be released in December 2017, however, it was postponed owing to health concerns and personal challenges she was dealing with.
At the time of writing, the album is still yet to be released, but she has already released a cover of Fools Rush In on iTunes and Spotify in 2019.
