Bud Cort, Acclaimed Actor of Harold and Maude, Dies at 77 After Long Illness

American actor Bud Cort, best known for his role in the 1971 cult film Harold and Maude, has died at the age of 77 after a long illness. The news was confirmed by writer and producer Dorian Hannaway, a close friend, while the BBC has contacted his representatives for further comment. Cort built a career spanning more than five decades, appearing in over 80 films and television series.

Although Harold and Maude was initially both a commercial and critical disappointment, it later achieved cult status in the 1970s. In the film, Cort played Harold, a young man fascinated by death who develops an unlikely romantic relationship with Maude, an elderly woman portrayed by Ruth Gordon. Directed by Hal Ashby and featuring music by Cat Stevens, the film became celebrated for its dark humor, unconventional love story, and philosophical undertones. Cort’s performance earned him nominations for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and the film remains a touchstone of American cinema.

Born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1948, Cort showed an early passion for acting, participating in school productions and frequently traveling to Manhattan to attend Broadway shows. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s to pursue film work, landing early roles in M*A*S*H and Brewster McCloud. Over the years, he continued working steadily in films such as Heat, Dogma, and Invaders from Mars, and appeared in popular television series including Arrested Development, Ugly Betty, and Criminal Minds.

Tributes have poured in from figures such as director Edgar Wright, who praised Cort’s magnetic screen presence and memorable performances. His legacy endures through his distinctive contributions to both cult and mainstream cinema.