Rocky Dennis: the True Story of the Boy Who Inspired ‘Mask’

When Rocky Dennis was born in 1961, the little boy with bright eyes seemed like any other baby. When he was just two years old, however his family’s life would be changed forever. 

During a routine tonsillectomy, an X-ray technician picked up irregularities in Rocky’s skull. There was a calcium build up in his skull which was distorting his facial features.

Doctors predicted that Rocky wouldn’t live past his seventh birthday. But the little boy beat the odds, becoming a huge inspiration for many in the process.

Here’s all you need to know about the extraordinary life of Rocky Dennis – and how he, by accident, became a worldwide star thanks to a hospital nurse through the 1985 film Mask.

All of us are born different and unique. Sure, there might be similarities through things like our hobbies, and we might share things like hair color, interests, or other facets of appearances. In the end, though, the most important thing for all us is to accept others for who they are.

No matter how or where we are born, if we have physical or mental disabilities or a condition that makes us look “different” from the norm, we’re all worthy of the same respect. We should all have the opportunity to live the life we want to lead.

As individuals, we must never forget that, while it’s vital we remind each other never to judge someone else before getting to know them.

The incredible life of Rocky Dennis

With this in mind, we believe it’s crucial to tell the story about Rocky Dennis, an extraordinary and incredible young boy whose life changed forever when he was only two years of age.

On December 4, 1961, Rocky Dennis was born in Glenora, California. His mother, Rusty Dennis (later Mason), had given birth to a beautiful little boy. Not long after, the family moved to the town of Covina, California.

Then, when he was two years of age – during a routine tonsillectomy – Rocky’s life changed forever.

Rusty was given the news no mother should ever get. An X-ray technician had seen some irregularities in Rocky’s skull, and further testing at the UCLA Medical Center confirmed that the boy had an extremely rare condition. Abnormal calcium deposits were pushing his eyes towards the edges of his head, while simultaneously twisting his nose out of shape.

Despite his tender years, Rocky was told that he would lose his eyesight and hearing. Most tragically, the pressure created by the calcium deposits would, in the end, destroy his brain.

Sadly, Rusty was warned that her son wouldn’t live past his seventh birthday.

“I didn’t allow the doctors to talk him into death,” the mother told United Press International.

“You know, what you believe works and he believed he could stick around as long as he wanted to.”

Rocky Dennis’ extremely rare disease

Rusty was determined to never stop her son from living the life he wanted to. She wanted him to have the same experiences as any other child, and was of the opinion that he go to school.

At the same time, Rusty knew that their lives would change forever as they left the doctor’s office. Doctors had even told her that her son might be blind by the age of six. They said he would never be able to read; teachers advised Rusty that she shouldn’t enroll him at a public school.

Rusty, though, – any other mother would be – was confident that her child could do anything, so Rocky entered school at age six.

“They tried to say his intelligence was impaired,but it wasn’t true,” Rusty told People. “I think they wanted to keep him out of the classroom because [they thought] it would bother the other kids’ parents.”

Rocky’s mother had been married once before she met Roy, with whom she had Rocky. They split in 1971 – when Rocky was ten years old. Rusty raised her beloved son in the main, though Roy also remained close to Rocky following the divorce.

Now, paying for all of Rocky’s medical bills wasn’t easy, even though they were covered in large part by genetic research organizations. Rocky had been advised to take painkillers to relieve his headaches but, along with his mother, he was able to learn a particular biofeedback method that worked instead.

Although Rocky was naturally different from his classmates, they reportedly never treated him as such.