US actor Bud Cort, best known for his role in the 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude, has died aged 77.
Writer and producer Dorian Hannaway, a close friend, confirmed that he died after a long illness. The BBC has reached out to Cort's representatives.
A veteran actor of stage and screen, Cort appeared in more than 80 films and TV series, including Wes Anderson's quirky comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
But it was his star turn as a young, death-obsessed Harold who falls in love with a charming elderly Holocaust survivor, Maude, in Hal Ashby's beloved film that stayed with audiences throughout his 50-year career.
While Harold and Maude was originally a commercial and critical flop, it later gained traction in the 1970s through a loyal cult following thanks to its unique dark humor and quirky romantic pairing.
Director Edgar Wright paid tribute to the actor's work, calling him a welcome and magnetic presence in every film lucky enough to have him.
Cort earned acting nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his performance in Harold and Maude.
Born in New Rochelle, New York in 1948, Cort showed an early interest in performing, acting in many school productions. He later moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, where he was cast in a small part in the 1970 film M*A*S*H, before landing the titular role in Robert Altman's Brewster McCloud.
Cort worked steadily throughout his career with supporting roles in films such as Heat, Dogma, and Invaders from Mars, as well as several popular TV series including Arrested Development, Ugly Betty, and Criminal Minds.
