David Harris obit

David Harris, ‘The Warriors’ Actor, Dies at 75

Harris played Cochise in the 1979 cult classic film. 

He was not on the list.

David Harris, the actor known for playing Cochise in the 1979 cult classic The Warriors, has died. He was 75.

Harris died of cancer on Friday at his home in New York City, his daughter Davina Harris told the New York Times.

Based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel of the same name, The Warriors told the story of a New York City street gang tasked with traveling from the Bronx to Coney Island after they are framed for murder. Harris’ Cochise was a gang member with a defiant fashion sense, punctuated by a heavy turquoise necklace and headband.

The film was critically panned after its premiere, but later grew to be embraced by a fervent fanbase and now holds an 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

“I was in Hong Kong, I was in the Philippines, I was in Tokyo,” Harris said in a 2019 interview. “I’ve done a lot of movies, but I get off the plane and people go, It’s the guy from The Warriors.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who recently wrote a concept album with Eisa Davis based on The Warriors, posted a tribute on Instagram.

“Shocked and saddened at the passing of David Harris, aka the original Cochise in The Warriors,” Miranda wrote. “We were celebrating and giving him his flowers for his unforgettable performance just over a week ago. Grateful for that moment with him. Our hearts are with his daughter and galaxy of family and friends.”

Harris appeared in movies throughout the 1980s, ’90s, and 2000s, including 1980’s Brubaker, 1984’s A Soldier’s Story, 1980’s Quicksilver and 2015’s James White. On television, he appeared in episodes of Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Blue, ER, Profiler and Mike Hammer: Private Eye.

David Dominic Harris was born in New York City on June 18, 1949, per to his daughter. He attended the High School of Performing Arts, where an English teacher suggested he join the drama department.

Harris’ first major screen role came in the 1976 Emmy-nominated TV film Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys. In 1977, he was cast in the play Secret Service, starring Meryl Streep and John Lithgow. It was just a few years later that Harris’ agent connected him with The Warriors director Walter Hill.

Harris is survived by his sister, his mother, three siblings and two grandchildren.

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1979    The Warriors            'Cochise'         

1980            Brubaker         Duane Spivey 

1984    Purple Hearts  Hanes  

1984    A Soldier's Story            Private Smalls 

1986            Quicksilver            'Apache'         

1986    Fire with Fire            Ben Halsey 

1987    Fatal Beauty            Raphael          

1987    Under Cover   Lucas  

1988    Dead End City            Brad Bright  

1990            Operation Warzone            Colonel Harker

1997    Black Scorpion II: Aftershock            Heckler           

1997    Form, Space & Murder            Construction Worker            Short film

2000    Dish Dogs    Shane  

2013    Maniac            Deli Owner  Short film

2014    Straight            The Dealer  Short film

2015    The Warriors: Last Subway Ride Home            'Cochise'          Video

2015    James White   Joe      

2016            Mommy's Box C.C. 'Pop' Nevins    

2016    His Dying Wish            Walt Harper Final film role

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1976    Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys            Haywood Patterson            Television film

1977    Kojak            Bucky Norris            Episode: "The Godson"

1977    Secret Service Jonas            Television film

1979    The White Shadow            Rollo            Episode: "Needle"

1980    Death Penalty            Claudell            Television film

1980    Attica            T.J.            Television film

1982    Benny's Place    Ricky 'Ricky T'            Television film

1984–1986            Hill Street Blues            Darnell Karns / Bumphus            2 episodes

1985    Badge of the Assassin            Lester Bertram Day            Television film

1985    North and South            Priam            Television miniseries

1986            MacGyver       Luther            Episode: "Final Approach"

1987            Vietnam War Story            Harris            Episode: "Home"

1988    Crime Story            Henchman      2 episodes

1988    In the Heat of the Night    Willy Jones    2 episodes

1988    Simon & Simon            Travis Reese            Episode: "Little Boy Dead"

1989    The Equalizer            'Hammer'            Episode: "Suicide Squad"

1990    Cop Rock    Nelson Pine            Episode: "Pilot"

1991    Equal Justice  Antoine Adams            Episode: "End Game"

1992–2001            NYPD Blue     Officer Donny Simmons            16 episodes

1993    Father & Son: Dangerous Relations            Mario            Television film

1994    In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance            Unknown            Television film

1995            Favorite Deadly Sins            Robber #1            Television film

1997    Mike Hammer, Private Eye            Detective Artie Ushry            Episode: "Halloween"

1997    Profiler            Detective Marcel Roubidoux            Episode: "It Cuts Both Ways"

1998            Pensacola: Wings of Gold     Colonel LaCombe            Episode: "Soldiers of Misfortune"

1999    Martial Law     Arthur            Episode: "Captive Hearts"

2000    Any Day Now            Unknown            Episode: "Homegirl"

2000    ER            Fulton's Son            Episode: "Loose Ends"

2001    18 Wheels of Justice            Detective Lamont            Episode: "Crossing the Line"

2001    Philly            Man #3            Episode: "Loving Sons"

2012    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit            Warden            Episode: "Justice Denied"

2014            Elementary            Custodian            Episode: "The Adventure of the Nutmeg Concoction"

2018    Instinct            Building Super            Episode: "Secrets and Lies"

2019    First Wives Club            Uncle Bepop            Episode: "Vengeance"

Final television appearance

Video games

Year     Title            Role            Notes

2005    The Warriors            'Cochise'