Overview
- Cort’s death was reported Wednesday and confirmed by producer Dorian Hannaway, who said he had faced a prolonged illness.
- He is most closely identified with Hal Ashby’s 1971 film Harold and Maude, which evolved from an early box-office disappointment into a cult landmark recognized by AFI and preserved by the National Film Registry.
- Discovered by Robert Altman, Cort appeared in M*A*S*H and starred in Brewster McCloud before his breakout with Harold and Maude.
- A severe 1979 car crash on the Hollywood Freeway required multiple surgeries and curtailed his career momentum for years.
- His later work spanned films like Heat, Dogma, and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and voice roles including Toyman in DC animated series; survivors include a brother and three sisters, with a Los Angeles memorial to be scheduled.