Bud Cort, the actor whose wide-eyed, death-obsessed Harold Chasen became a face of 1970s counterculture cinema, has died at the age of 77. Cort passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a long battle with pneumonia.
His death was confirmed by his longtime friend and producer Dorian Hannaway, who remembered him as a “passionate theatergoer” and a “savant” of the craft.
A Cult Icon Born from Controversy
Cort’s career was defined by the 1971 Hal Ashby classic Harold and Maude. Playing a wealthy, alienated young man who stages elaborate fake suicides, Cort’s Harold found an unlikely soulmate in Maude, a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor played by Ruth Gordon.
Though the film was initially a box-office disaster, it blossomed into one of the most beloved cult classics in history. Its blend of dark humor, Cat Stevens’ soulful soundtrack, and the genuine tenderness between its leads earned Cort both Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. Director Edgar Wright paid tribute to Cort’s performance, specifically citing his “pitch-perfect” ability to break the fourth wall.
Beyond the Black Comedy
Born Walter Edward Cox in 1948, Cort was discovered in a comedy revue by legendary director Robert Altman. Altman quickly cast him in the 1970 hit MASH*** and gave him his first lead role as the bird-obsessed protagonist of Brewster McCloud.
Despite the monumental success of Harold and Maude, Cort often described the role as both a “blessing and a curse,” noting that he was frequently typecast as “weirdos.” He famously turned down the role of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in a bid for more conventional lead roles.
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His career was also marked by a devastating 1979 car accident on the Hollywood Freeway that required years of reconstructive surgery. However, he remained a steady presence in Hollywood, appearing in:
- Heat (1995): Playing Solko alongside Al Pacino.
- **Dogma (1999): As the voice of John Doe/The Presence.
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004): Portraying the “bond company stooge” for Wes Anderson.
- Television: Notable turns in Arrested Development, Ugly Betty, and voicing Toyman in the DC Animated Universe.
Bud Cort is survived by his brother, Joseph Cox, and three sisters. A memorial is expected to be held in Los Angeles at a later date.
