Bud Cort: ‘M*A*S*H’ and ‘Harold and Maude’ actor, dies at 77

Actor Bud Cort, best known for his lead role in the cult classic Harold and Maude, has died at the age of 77.

Cort died at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday following a long illness, his longtime friend Dorian Hannaway told Variety.

Born Walter Edward Cox in Rye, New York, Cort made his film debut in M*A*S*H, directed by Robert Altman, where he played Private Lorenzo Boone. Altman later cast him in the lead role of Brewster McCloud, a surreal comedy that initially received mixed reviews but has since gained critical appreciation.

Cort’s most iconic performance came in Harold and Maude, directed by Hal Ashby, in which he portrayed a morose, death-obsessed young man who forms a relationship with a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor played by Ruth Gordon. The film later became a defining cult favourite.

Over the course of his career, Cort appeared in a wide range of films, including Heat, Dogma, Coyote Ugly, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Pollock.

He also worked extensively in voice acting, lending his voice to Electric Dreams and animated series including Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited.

In addition to acting, Cort co-wrote, directed and starred in the 1991 film Ted and Venus.

His career was temporarily disrupted after a near-fatal car accident in Hollywood in 1971, which required multiple surgeries and led to an extended recovery.

Cort is survived by his brothers, sisters, and several nieces and nephews.