Bud Cort, the actor whose lead performance as Harold made Harold and Maude an enduring cult favorite, has died at 77. He also appeared early in his career as Private Boone in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H.
How did Bud Cort die, and how old was he?
Cort died at 77 in Norwalk, Connecticut, after a long illness, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Guardian reported that his death followed complications from pneumonia. Born Walter Edward Cox on March 29, 1948, he was known professionally as Bud Cort.
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![Harold and Maude (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tPdb+pMPL._SL160_.jpg)
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Harold and Maude (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Harold and Maude (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51h2zaDexcL._SL160_.jpg)
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Harold and Maude (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Harold And Maude (Masters of Cinema) (Blu-ray) [1971]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61aVvo-rqgL._SL160_.jpg)
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Harold And Maude (Masters of Cinema) (Blu-ray) [1971] | $219.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![HAROLD & MAUDE - MOVIE [Blu-ray] [1971] [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zwF6QU10L._SL160_.jpg)
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HAROLD & MAUDE - MOVIE [Blu-ray] [1971] [DVD] | $126.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Harold and Maude | Buy on Amazon |
What was Bud Cort best known for?
Harold in Harold and Maude
Cort played Harold, the young man at the center of Hal Ashby’s 1971 dark comedy Harold and Maude. The Television Academy identifies the role as his best known. The film was not an immediate hit: it flopped with critics and audiences on release, then gradually built the cult reputation that made Cort’s performance his most enduring screen association, as the Guardian and Los Angeles Times recount.
Cort later described a cost of that recognition. In a quote from a 1996 Los Angeles Times interview reproduced by AARP, he said: “I was typecast to the point where I didn’t make a film for five years after Harold and Maude.”
#1 Best Overall
Private Boone in M*A*S*H
Before Harold and Maude, Cort played Private Boone in Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H. According to the Los Angeles Times and the Guardian, Altman cast him after seeing him perform in a nightclub revue. Boone was an early supporting role; Harold, by contrast, was the lead character in the film that became most closely tied to Cort’s name.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What else did Bud Cort appear in?
Cort continued acting well beyond those early roles. Later screen credits cited by the Guardian include Heat, Dogma and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. He also did voice work in the 2015 animated film The Little Prince. His career therefore extended across decades and included both live-action performances and animation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk DOES NOT have English audio and subtitles.
Rank #2
- Factory sealed DVD
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