Walter “Bud” Edward Cox (Bud Cort) passed away on February 11, 2026 after a long illness, and has now returned peacefully to God’s loving embrace.Bud was born in 1948 to Alma and Joseph Cox and grew up in Rye. He attended Resurrection Grammar School and Iona Prep. From a young age, Bud showed remarkable talent in both the visual and performing arts. In high school, he took classes at the Rye Art Center and became skilled in portraiture, receiving commissions from many Rye families to create original portraits of their loved ones. At Iona Prep, he immersed himself in all aspects of theater, including lighting, set design, make-up, and acting. As a young teenager, he raised money through his art commissions and bake sales so he could take the train into Manhattan to attend the theater.
Bud studied set design at the NYU School of the Arts. While there, he met actor and coach Bill Hickey and ultimately left NYU to train full‑time at HB Studio in Greenwich Village. He began landing non‑speaking roles in films and appeared in several commercials. The Cox family fondly remembered rushing home to gather around the TV to watch Bud deliver flowers in an episode of General Hospital.
In the late sixties, Bud moved to Los Angeles. While performing in a revue in Hollywood, he caught the attention of director Robert Altman, who cast him in a small role in M.A.S.H. Altman then offered him the lead role in his next film, Brewster McCloud, alongside Sally Kellerman, Shelley Duvall, and others.
In 1971, Bud starred with Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude, which went on to become a cult classic. The film—and Bud—received numerous accolades and is frequently listed among the top 100 films of all time. Over the course of his career, he appeared in more than 40 films, including Coyote Ugly, Pollock, Heat, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. He also continued to work in live theater and made guest appearances on television.
Bud was a generous, thoughtful, loyal, and spirited son, brother, uncle, great‑uncle, and friend. He made a genuine effort to stay closely connected with the people he cared about. He never missed a birthday and loved sending gifts simply to say, “I’m thinking of you.” His mischievous sense of humor and love of making others laugh endeared him to everyone he met. He made friends wherever he went and will be deeply missed.
Bud is survived by his brother, Joseph Cox (Vickie) of Rye; his sisters Tracy Berkman (Edward) of Norwalk, CT, Kerry Cox of Larchmont, NY, and Shelly Dufour (Robert) of Greensboro, GA; his nieces and nephews, Meave Cox, Brynn Cox, Daniel Berkman, Peter Berkman, Madeline Dufour Scheve, and Lucie Dufour Blankenship; and five great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his niece Samantha Berkman in 2023.
The family will receive friends at the Graham Funeral Home on Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 4:00-8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday February 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Rye, NY.
