Bud Cort, star of ‘Harold and Maude’ and ‘Brewster McCloud,’ dies at 77

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I was so sad to hear about Bud Cort. He was the actor who played the troubled young man in “Harold and Maude,” the movie that became a real cult favorite thanks to its unusual and heartwarming love story. He passed away Wednesday in Connecticut after a long illness, and he was 77 years old. His performance really made that film special, and it will always be remembered.

His death was confirmed by Cort’s longtime friend Dorian Hannaway, who first met the actor in 1978.

Walter Edward Cox, better known as Cort, was born on March 29, 1948, in Rye, New York. He quickly developed a passion for acting and adopted his stage name early on. After appearing in minor roles on television, he caught the attention of director Robert Altman during a comedy performance. This led to his breakout role as Private Boone in Altman’s acclaimed 1970 film, “MAS*H.” That same year, Altman also cast Cort as the lead in “Brewster McCloud,” a quirky story about a man in Houston who dreams of flying.

Bud Cort truly made a name for himself in Hal Ashby’s film, “Harold and Maude.” He played Harold Parker Chasen, a wealthy young man preoccupied with death who staged fake suicides. Cort brought a vulnerable and sincere quality to the role, which slowly transformed into a sense of wonder as Harold fell in love with Maude, a lively Holocaust survivor played by the recently Oscar-winning Ruth Gordon (“Rosemary’s Baby”). Though not initially a box office hit, the film gained a dedicated following, becoming a beloved cult classic internationally. Cort’s performance earned him nominations for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award.

The part both kickstarted and hindered his career. Bud Cort explained to The Times in 1996 that he was so strongly associated with the role that he didn’t appear in another film for five years. He continued working, but only on stage, where he wasn’t limited by typecasting.

He described the film as a double-edged sword. While it limited his growth as an actor in some ways, it also opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed, giving him valuable opportunities.

Cort avoided playing overly quirky or strange characters. He later regretted turning down a role in the 1975 Oscar-winning film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” saying he should have accepted every part offered to him. He didn’t want to be typecast as someone like Tony Perkins, Maynard Krebs, or Peter Lorre – actors known for playing unusual roles.

In 1979, a serious car accident on the Hollywood Freeway significantly impacted his career. He suffered multiple fractures and severe facial injuries, requiring extensive plastic surgery and keeping him out of work for years.

Cort continued to appear in memorable roles in both movies and TV. He provided the voice for a thinking computer in the 1984 film “Electric Dreams,” played a tough diner manager in Michael Mann’s “Heat” (1995), and famously portrayed a homeless man who was actually God in Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” (1999). He also appeared as art supporter Howard Putzel in “Pollock” (2000) and was part of the cast in Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” (2004). In 1991, Cort wrote, directed, and starred in “Ted & Venus,” a small-budget romantic film about a poet living in Venice Beach.

He was a prolific voice actor, notably playing Toyman in various DC animated series and television shows. He also had roles in productions like “And the Band Played On,” “Ugly Betty,” and “Criminal Minds.”

You know, when I was reading about Cort, he put it really beautifully. He didn’t see acting as something he chose to do, more like something he was always meant to do. He even told The Times he wasn’t sure about past lives, but if he had one, he’d bet money he was an actor in it. It felt less like a career path and more like just… who he was.

He is remembered by his brother, Joseph Cox, and Joseph’s wife, Vickie, along with their daughters, Meave, Brytnn, and Jesse, who live in Rye, New York. He also leaves behind his sister, Kerry Cox of Larchmont, New York, and his sister Tracy Cox Berkman and her husband, Edward, and their sons, Daniel and Peter. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Shelly Cox Dufour, her husband Robert, and their nieces, Madeline and Lucie.

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2026-02-12 01:01