Bud Cort, best known for his iconic role in the beloved cult film “Harold and Maude,” passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at an assisted living home in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was 77. His friend and producer, Dorian Hannaway, confirmed that he died from pneumonia-related complications following a prolonged illness.
Born Walter Edward Cox on March 29, 1948, in New Rochelle, New York, Cort was raised in nearby Rye, where he developed an early love for the stage that shaped his entire career. He briefly attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and trained under renowned acting coach Stella Adler before starting his professional journey. As a teen, he often slipped away to Manhattan to catch Broadway matinees, lingering by stage doors in hopes of seeing Barbra Streisand after performances of “Funny Girl.”
“Bud Cort was a genius when it came to acting and theater, and he carried a deep passion for it from a very young age,” Hannaway told The Hollywood Reporter.
Cort’s career took off in 1970 after director Robert Altman discovered him, casting him in “M*A*S*H” and giving him the lead in “Brewster McCloud.” However, it was his role as Harold in Hal Ashby’s 1971 dark comedy “Harold and Maude” that solidified his legacy in film history.
In the movie, Cort played a young man fixated on death who forms an unexpected romantic connection with Maude, portrayed by Ruth Gordon, a spirited 79‑year‑old Holocaust survivor. Though initially dismissed by critics and ignored by audiences—Paramount barely marketed it, opting for stark posters that looked more suited to “The Ten Commandments”—the film slowly built a passionate following. Over time, it became a cherished cult favorite and ultimately ranked ninth on the American Film Institute’s list of the top 10 romantic comedies ever made.
The performance earned Cort a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and a BAFTA nod for Most Promising Newcomer. Yet the role also proved limiting. Typecast in eccentric parts, he declined offers such as Billy Bibbit in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” because he didn’t want to portray mental illness—a part that later helped Brad Dourif win acclaim as the film swept the Oscars.
In 1979, Cort survived a near‑fatal crash on the Hollywood Freeway after hitting an abandoned car. He sustained a fractured skull, broken limbs, and severe facial injuries that required several reconstructive surgeries. The accident sidelined him for years, and by the time he recovered, the industry had shifted from the personal, idiosyncratic films of the 1970s to big-budget franchise blockbusters.
Even so, Cort continued working for more than fifty years, building a filmography of over 80 movie and TV roles. His projects ranged widely, including “Electric Dreams” (1984), Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” (1999)—where he played a comatose homeless man revealed to be God—Ed Harris’s “Pollock” (2000), and Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004). On television, he appeared in series such as “Ugly Betty,” “Criminal Minds,” “Arrested Development,” and “Columbo.”
Cort also built a significant voice acting career, most notably portraying Toyman in several DC Animated Universe shows, including “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Static Shock,” and “Justice League Unlimited.” His final credited performance was as The King in the 2015 animated adaptation of “The Little Prince.”
Outside film and television, Cort co-founded LA Classic Theatre Works with Richard Dreyfuss and Rene Auberjonois, reflecting his lifelong dedication to the stage. In 1991, he wrote, directed, and starred in the dark comedy “Ted and Venus.”
Filmmaker Edgar Wright honored Cort’s memory, calling him “a captivating presence in every project fortunate enough to include him,” and described his performance in “Harold and Maude” as “a flawless blend of dark humor and timeless romance.”
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), who created the “Harold and Maude” soundtrack, wrote: “May God, the Most Merciful, bless and forgive the soul of our dear friend Bud Cort… who became Harold for all of us.”
Cort never married and had no children. He is survived by his brother Joseph Cox, sister‑in‑law Vickie, and several nieces. A memorial service celebrating his life and career will be announced at a later date.
