Bud Cort, widely recognized for his unforgettable performance in the cult classic “Harold and Maude,” died on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at an assisted living facility in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was 77. His friend and producer, Dorian Hannaway, stated that he passed away due to complications from pneumonia after a long illness.
Born Walter Edward Cox on March 29, 1948, in New Rochelle, New York, Cort grew up in nearby Rye, where his early passion for theater took root and guided his future career. He briefly studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and trained with esteemed acting coach Stella Adler before embarking on his professional path. As a teenager, he often slipped away to Manhattan for Broadway matinees, waiting by stage doors in hopes of glimpsing Barbra Streisand after performances of “Funny Girl.”
“Bud Cort was a true talent in both acting and theater, and his love for the craft began at a very early age,” Hannaway told The Hollywood Reporter.
Cort’s breakthrough came in 1970 when director Robert Altman discovered him, casting him in “M*A*S*H” and later giving him the leading role in “Brewster McCloud.” But it was his portrayal of Harold in Hal Ashby’s 1971 dark comedy “Harold and Maude” that cemented his place in cinematic history.
In the film, Cort played a death-obsessed young man who develops a surprising romantic bond with Maude, played by Ruth Gordon, an energetic 79-year-old Holocaust survivor. Although critics initially dismissed the movie and audiences ignored it—Paramount barely promoted it, using stark poster designs that looked more suited to “The Ten Commandments”—the film eventually found a devoted audience. Over the years, it became a beloved cult classic and ultimately placed ninth on the American Film Institute’s list of the top 10 romantic comedies of all time.
His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, along with a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. However, the role also confined him. Often cast in offbeat characters, he turned down roles such as Billy Bibbit in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” because he preferred not to portray mental illness—a part that later brought Brad Dourif significant acclaim as the film swept the Oscars.
In 1979, Cort survived a serious crash on the Hollywood Freeway after colliding with an abandoned vehicle. He suffered a fractured skull, multiple broken bones, and major facial injuries that led to several reconstructive surgeries. The accident kept him from working for years, and by the time he returned, the industry had shifted from the intimate, character-driven films of the 1970s to large-scale franchise blockbusters.
Despite these obstacles, Cort continued acting for more than five decades, ultimately appearing in over 80 film and television projects. His body of work spanned eclectic roles, including appearances in “Electric Dreams” (1984), Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” (1999)—in which he portrayed 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 guest-starred in shows such as “Ugly Betty,” “Criminal Minds,” “Arrested Development,” and “Columbo.”
Another automobile accident in 2011, during which his arm was nearly severed, further reduced his ability to secure acting roles.
Cort also established a notable voice acting career, most famously voicing Toyman in several DC Animated Universe series, including “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Static Shock,” and “Justice League Unlimited.” His last credited role was as The King in the 2015 animated film adaptation of “The Little Prince.”
Beyond the screen, Cort co-founded LA Classic Theatre Works with Richard Dreyfuss and Rene Auberjonois, showcasing his lasting devotion to live theater. In 1991, he wrote, directed, and starred in the dark comedy “Ted and Venus.”
Filmmaker Edgar Wright paid tribute to Cort, describing him as “a mesmerizing presence in every project fortunate enough to feature him,” and praising his work in “Harold and Maude” as “a perfect mix of dark wit and enduring romance.”
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), who composed 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.