Walter “Bud” Edward Cox (Bud Cort) passed away on Feb. 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. He grew up in Rye and 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 Arts Center and became skilled in portraiture, receiving commissions from many Rye families to create original portraits of their loved ones.
At Iona Prep, Bud 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 eventually left NYU to train full-time at HB Studio in Greenwich Village.
Bud 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 60s, 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 the film, “M.A.S.H.” Altman then offered Bud 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, Bud 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 make 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.”
Bud’s 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, Conn., Kerry Cox of Larchmont, N.Y., 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 from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at the Graham Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
