Bud Cort obit

Bud Cort, ‘Harold and Maude’ Star, Dies at 77

 

He was not on the list.

Bud Cort, who personified the role of Harold in the 1971 Hal Ashby classic “Harold and Maude,” died Wednesday in Connecticut after a long illness. He was 77.

His longtime friend Dorian Hannaway reported his death.

Cort also starred in Robert Altman’s “Brewster McCloud” and had roles in numerous other films and TV shows.

In “Harold and Maude,” which became a beloved and enduring cult classic despite a rocky start at the box office, Cort played a 20-year old man obsessed by thoughts of suicide whose life changes when he meets Maude, a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor played by Ruth Gordon.

Born Walter Edward Cox in Rye, N.Y., he changed his name to avoid confusion with character actor Wally Cox. He went to school in New Rochelle, N.Y. and enjoyed going to Broadway shows.

“I was only fourteen when I met Bud at the backstage door at my sister’s play,” Roslyn Kind recalled in a statement. “He was majoring in art at the time in high school. We became close friends who shared our interest in entertainment. When I got married, Bud and our songwriter friend, Bruce Roberts, wrote a special song that was performed at the ceremony. His unique spirit will always be with me.”

Cort moved to Los Angeles to work in film, and was cast by Altman in a small part in “MASH.” Altman then selected his to star in the quirky “Brewster McCloud” about a young man who yearns to fly, with Sally Kellerman as a guardian angel.

“We were in the line for lunch when I spotted him,” she later recalled. “Although I didn’t know who he was, I said ‘Oh, boy. We’re going to be best friends.’”

His chemistry with Gordon while auditioning for the part of Harold convinced Ashby and writer Colin Higgins to cast him in “Harold and Maude,” which has endured as a repertory screening favorite for more than 50 years. He was nominated for a BAFTA award as most promising newcomer and for a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy.

“A young man obsessed with death falls in love with an old woman obsessed with life. She dies and teaches the kid how to live,” Cameron Crowe described it for AFI in 2011. “And it’s done with music [by Cat Stevens] that scratches at your soul. . . . that movie holds up — to this minute.”

His other roles included films “She Dances Alone,” “Electric Dreams” and “The Life Aquatic,” as well as “Heat,” “Dogma,” “Coyote Ugly” and “Pollock.”

He also voiced the character Toyman in “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Static Shock” and “Justic League Unlimited.” He co-wrote, starred in and directed the 1991 film “Ted and Venus.”

In 1979, Cort narrowly survived a devastating car accident, which necessitated numerous surgeries and affected his career.

He is survived by his brother Joseph Cox and his sister-in-law Vickie and their daughters, Meave, Brytnn, and Jesse of Rye, N.Y.; his sister Kerry Cox of Larchmont, N.Y.; his sister and brother-in-law, Tracy Cox Berkman and Edward Berkman, and their sons, Daniel and Peter. He is also survived by his sister, Shelly Cox Dufour and brother-in-law Robert Dufour, and nieces Madeline and Lucie.

 

A memorial will be held at a future date in Los Angeles.

Actor

Affections (2016)

Affections

5.8

Short

2016

 

Jeff Bridges, James Franco, Riley Osborne, and Mackenzie Foy in The Little Prince (2015)

The Little Prince

7.6

The King (voice)

2015

 

Dream Corp LLC (2014)

Dream Corp LLC

8.1

TV Short

Carl Kwarts

2014

 

Chris Elliott, Maria Thayer, and Brett Gelman in Eagleheart (2011)

Eagleheart

7.4

TV Series

Gleeko

2012

1 episode

 

Funny or Die Presents... (2010)

Funny or Die Presents...

5.6

TV Series

Robert Rubbie

2010

1 episode

 

Criminal Minds (2005)

Criminal Minds

8.1

TV Series

Roger Roycewood

2010

1 episode

 

America Ferrera in Ugly Betty (2006)

Ugly Betty

6.8

TV Series

Priest

2007

1 episode

 

Jim Carrey in The Number 23 (2007)

The Number 23

6.4

Dr. Sirius Leary (uncredited)

2007

 

Justice League Unlimited (2004)

Justice League Unlimited

8.7

TV Series

Winslow Schott Jr.The Toyman (voice)

2006

1 episode

 

Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, David Cross, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, and Jessica Walter in Arrested Development (2003)

Arrested Development

8.6

TV Series

Bud Cort

2006

1 episode

 

Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Bud Cort, Anjelica Huston, Michael Gambon, and Owen Wilson in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

7.2

Bill Ubell

2004

 

The Big Empty (2003)

The Big Empty

6.0

Neely

2003

 

Static Shock (2000)

Static Shock

7.4

TV Series

Winslow SchottToyman (voice)

2003

1 episode

 

Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau in Made (2001)

Made

6.3

Interior Decorator (uncredited)

2001

 

Ed Harris in Pollock (2000)

Pollock

7.0

Howard Putzel

2000

 

Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, Izabella Miko, Bridget Moynahan, and Piper Perabo in Coyote Ugly (2000)

Coyote Ugly

5.8

Romero

2000

 

Mel Gibson, Milla Jovovich, and Jeremy Davies in The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)

The Million Dollar Hotel

5.7

Shorty

2000

 

Bridget Fonda, Paul Reubens, Billy Bob Thornton, Vince Vaughn, Peter Fonda, and Dwight Yoakam in South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000)

South of Heaven, West of Hell

4.3

Agent Otts

2000

 

Natasha Lyonne in But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

But I'm a Cheerleader

6.9

Peter

1999

 

Salma Hayek, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes in Dogma (1999)

Dogma

7.3

John Doe Jersey

1999

 

Superman: The Animated Series (1996)

Superman: The Animated Series

8.1

TV Series

The ToymanWinslow Schott (voice)

1996–1998

2 episodes

 

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1995)

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

7.0

TV Series

Flint Northwood (voice)

1998

1 episode

 

Billy Zane in I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998)

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

5.5

Shopkeeper (as Lord Hienrich 'Binky' Alcoa III)

1998

 

Samantha Mathis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Sweet Jane (1998)

Sweet Jane

6.9

Dr. Geiler

1998

 

Jitters (1997)

Jitters

6.3

TV Movie

Michael

1997

 

James Gandolfini in Gun (1997)

Gun

6.1

TV Series

Lazy Eye Pete

1997

1 episode

 

The Mask (1995)

The Mask

6.9

TV Series

TempestFritz Drizzle (voice, as Bud Court)

1996–1997

2 episodes

 

Whoopi Goldberg and George Newbern in Theodore Rex (1995)

Theodore Rex

2.4

Spinner

1995

 

Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Al Pacino, Ted Levine, Wes Studi, Jerry Trimble, and Mykelti Williamson in Heat (1995)

Heat

8.3

Solenko, Restaurant Manager (uncredited)

1995

 

Screen Two (1984)

Screen Two

6.6

TV Series

Dr. Webb

1995

1 episode

 

Erika Eleniak and William McNamara in Girl in the Cadillac (1995)

Girl in the Cadillac

5.0

Bud

1995

 

Matthew Modine in And the Band Played On (1993)

And the Band Played On

7.8

TV Movie

Antique shop owner

1993

 

Jack's Place (1992)

Jack's Place

6.8

TV Series

Jules Philpott

1993

1 episode

 

C.C.P.D.

5.5

TV Movie

Paramedic

1992

 

Bob (1992)

Bob

7.3

TV Series

Malcolm Tibbets

1992

1 episode

 

Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue (1992)

Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue

5.9

TV Movie

Squid Jr.

1992

 

Tom & Jerry Kids Show (1990)

Tom & Jerry Kids Show

6.3

TV Series

(voice)

1992

1 episode

 

Dream On (1990)

Dream On

7.6

TV Series

Creepy Guy

1992

1 episode

 

Batman: The Animated Series (1992)

Batman: The Animated Series

9.0

TV Series

Josiah Wormwood (voice)

1992

1 episode

 

Ted & Venus (1991)

Ted & Venus

4.8

Ted Whitley

1991

 

Going Under (1991)

Going Under

3.5

McNally (uncredited)

1991

 

Bill Pullman in Brain Dead (1990)

Brain Dead

5.8

Jack Halsey

1990

 

Midnight Caller (1988)

Midnight Caller

7.8

TV Series

Gaddis

1989

1 episode

 

The Twilight Zone (1985)

The Twilight Zone

7.7

TV Series

Willy Gardner

1988

1 episode

 

Ilan Mitchell-Smith in The Chocolate War (1988)

The Chocolate War

6.6

Brother Jacques

1988

 

Out of the Dark (1988)

Out of the Dark

5.4

Stringer

1988

 

Bill Paxton and Andrew Todd Rosenthal in Martini Ranch: Reach (1988)

Martini Ranch: Reach

6.4

Music Video

Crazy Local

1988

 

Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page, and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Sledge Hammer!

8.1

TV Series

Zeff Campbell

1987

1 episode

 

Love at Stake (1987)

Love at Stake

4.9

Parson Babcock

1987

 

Bates Motel (1987)

Bates Motel

3.8

TV Movie

Alex West

1987

 

Page Fletcher in The Hitchhiker (1983)

The Hitchhiker

6.7

TV Series

Wax

1987

1 episode

 

Laurie Lathem in Telephone (1986)

Telephone

6.9

Short

Man

1986

 

Invaders from Mars (1986)

Invaders from Mars

5.5

Mark Weinstein

1986

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Newt

1985

1 episode

 

Tales from the Darkside (1983)

Tales from the Darkside

7.4

TV Series

Abe North

1985

1 episode

 

Jeff Lynne: Video (1984)

Jeff Lynne: Video

Music Video

Assistant

1984

 

Bud Cort and Carol Kane in The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984)

The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud

4.3

Sigmund Freud

1984

 

Maria's Lovers (1984)

Maria's Lovers

6.5

Harvey

1984

 

Electric Dreams (1984)

Electric Dreams

6.4

Edgar (voice)

1984

 

Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)

Faerie Tale Theatre

8.3

TV Series

The PageMusic Master

1982–1983

2 episodes

 

Jamie Lee Curtis in Love Letters (1983)

Love Letters

5.8

Danny De Fronso

1983

 

Richard Kiel and Julie Newmar in Hysterical (1982)

Hysterical

5.3

Dr. John

1982

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.5

TV Series

Teddy

1982

1 episode

 

She Dances Alone (1981)

She Dances Alone

6.5

Director

1981

 

Die Laughing (1980)

Die Laughing

4.9

Mueller

1980

 

Brave New World (1980)

Brave New World

6.5

TV Movie

Bernard Marx

1980

 

Son of Hitler (1979)

Son of Hitler

4.0

Willi Hitler

1979

 

Why Shoot the Teacher (1977)

Why Shoot the Teacher

6.9

Max Brown

1977

 

Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976)

Bernice Bobs Her Hair

6.9

TV Movie

Warren

1976

 

The Hallucinating Trip (1975)

The Hallucinating Trip

4.8

Massimo Monaldi

1975

 

Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon, Cyril Cusack, Judy Engles, Ellen Geer, Vivian Pickles, Shari Summers, and Charles Tyner in Harold and Maude (1971)

Harold and Maude

7.8

Harold Chasen

1971

 

Bud Cort in Brewster McCloud (1970)

Brewster McCloud

6.8

Brewster

1970

 

Stacy Keach in The Traveling Executioner (1970)

The Traveling Executioner

6.3

Jimmy

1970

 

Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970)

Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.

4.2

Hooper

1970

 

Bruce Davison and Kim Darby in The Strawberry Statement (1970)

The Strawberry Statement

6.6

Elliot - Coxswain

1970

 

Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, and Jo Ann Pflug in M*A*S*H (1970)

M*A*S*H

7.3

Pvt. Boone

1970

 

The Governor & J.J. (1969)

The Governor & J.J.

7.0

TV Series

Marvin Harris

1969

1 episode

 

Michael Constantine, Lloyd Haynes, Denise Nicholas, and Karen Valentine in Room 222 (1969)

Room 222

7.7

TV Series

Jerry Shaffer

1969

1 episode

 

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1969)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

6.5

TV Series

Jeff

1969

1 episode

 

Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin in Sweet Charity (1969)

Sweet Charity

6.9

Flower Child (uncredited)

1969

 

James Pritchett in The Doctors (1963)

The Doctors

7.1

TV Series

Delivery Boy (uncredited)

1968

2 episodes

 

Sandy Dennis in Up the Down Staircase (1967)

Up the Down Staircase

7.3

Student (uncredited)

1967

 

Director

Ted & Venus (1991)

Ted & Venus

4.8

Director

1991

 

Hotels - Geschichte und Geschichten

TV Series

co-director

1989–1990

2 episodes

 

Writer

Ted & Venus (1991)

Ted & Venus

4.8

screenplay

1991

 

Hotels - Geschichte und Geschichten

TV Series

co-writer

1990

1 episode

 

Music Department

Bill Paxton and Andrew Todd Rosenthal in Martini Ranch: Reach (1988)

Martini Ranch: Reach

6.4

Music Video

music recordist (uncredited)

1988

 

She Dances Alone (1981)

She Dances Alone

6.5

title song

1981

 

Soundtrack

Bud Cort and Carol Kane in The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984)

The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud

4.3

lyrics: "What We Are"music: "What We Are"

1984

 

Additional Crew

She Dances Alone (1981)

She Dances Alone

6.5

additional dramatic elements

1981

 

Thanks

Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, and Koyu Rankin in Isle of Dogs (2018)

Isle of Dogs

7.8

special thanks

2018

 

This Is an Adventure (2005)

This Is an Adventure

6.9

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Iron and Beyond (2002)

Iron and Beyond

6.6

Video

special thanks

2002

 

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' (2002)

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'

7.2

TV Movie

special thanks

2002

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron (1977)

Pumping Iron

7.3

thanks

1977

 

Self

Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins (2022)

Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins

8.8

Self

2022

 

Shootout (2003)

Shootout

6.6

TV Series

Self

2007

1 episode

 

Matthew Gray Gubler in Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal (2005)

Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal

7.9

Video

Self

2005

 

The One Dollar Diary

7.0

Self

2002

 

Behind the Scenes: 'But I'm a Cheerleader' (2001)

Behind the Scenes: 'But I'm a Cheerleader'

Video

Self

2001

 

Roseanne Barr in The Roseanne Show (1997)

The Roseanne Show

3.0

TV Series

Self

2000

1 episode

 

Robert Altman in Altman on His Own Terms (2000)

Altman on His Own Terms

8.5

TV Movie

Self

2000

 

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies

6.5

TV Special

Self

2000

 

Hotels - Geschichte und Geschichten

TV Series

Self

1990

1 episode

 

An Evening at the Improv (1981)

An Evening at the Improv

7.2

TV Series

Self - Host

1989

1 episode

 

Dick Wilson in Camp Midnite (1989)

Camp Midnite

TV Series

Self - Guest

1989

1 episode

 

The Annual American Cinematheque Award Honors Bette Midler

TV Special

Self

1987

 

Night of 100 Stars II (1985)

Night of 100 Stars II

7.5

TV Special

Self

1985

 

Sunday Night Live

7.0

TV Special

Self - Master of Ceremonies (M.C.)

1984

 

Night of 100 Stars (1982)

Night of 100 Stars

7.0

TV Special

Self

1982

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron (1977)

Pumping Iron

7.3

Self (scenes deleted)

1977

 

Making It in Hollywood (1976)

Making It in Hollywood

Short

Self

1976

 

This Is Your Life (1970)

This Is Your Life

7.4

TV Series

Self

1971

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

SBS World News (2002)

SBS World News

3.8

TV Series

Self - Actor (archive footage)

2024

1 episode

 

Paid in Puke (2019)

Paid in Puke

Podcast Series

Peter (archive sound)

2023

1 episode

 

The Pink Popcast (2020)

The Pink Popcast

TV Series

Peter (archive footage)

2023

1 episode

 

Cat Stevens : De Steven Georgiou à Yusuf Islam (2021)

Cat Stevens : De Steven Georgiou à Yusuf Islam

6.9

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2021

 

The Movies (2019)

The Movies

7.8

TV Mini Series

Self - Harold (archive footage)

2019

1 episode

 

Hal Ashby in Hal (2018)

Hal

7.2

Self (archive footage)

2018

 

Interview-Director Keith Gordon Discusses 'the Chocolate War'

Self (archive footage)

2007

 

Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (2004)

Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust

7.5

Self (archive footage)

2004

 

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' (2002)

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'

7.2

TV Movie

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

2002

 

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel in Siskel & Ebert (1986)

Siskel & Ebert

8.6

TV Series

Self - Peter (archive footage)

2000

1 episode