Bud Cort, best known to audiences for his role in the cult classic “Harold and Maude,” has died at the age of 77.
His friend Dorian Hannaway confirmed Cort’s death to Variety. The actor passed away in Connecticut after a long illness the outlet reported.
Cort landed his first two credited roles in back-to-back Robert Altman films, “M*A*S*H*” and “Brewster McCloud,” after the director discovered him in a revue.
He went on to star in “Harold and Maude,” the dark comedy/drama directed by Hal Ashby, that paired with Ruth Gordon as Maude. The pair form an unlikely friendship and romance, teaching each other valuable lessons about life and death.
Born Walter Edward Cox in Rye, New York on March 29, 1948, Cort was a longtime fan of theater.
His friend Roslyn Kind told Variety in a statement, “I was only fourteen when I met Bud at the backstage door at my sister’s play. 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 was a prolific actor with dozens of credits to his name. He appeared in films such as “Dogma,” “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “Coyote Ugly,” and “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.”
His television credits include “The Twilight Zone,” “Arrested Development,” and “Ugly Betty.”
Cort’s last credited role was in the 2016 film “Affections.”
Per Variety, 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; his sister, Shelly Cox Dufour and brother-in-law Robert Dufour, and nieces Madeline and Lucie.
The outlet also reported a memorial will be held in Los Angeles at a later date.