Actor Bud Cort has died aged 77, his longtime friend Dorian Hannaway confirmed. The star was best known for his role in the 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude.

Cort died Wednesday in Connecticut of complications from pneumonia after a long illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His friend, Dorian, said in a touching tribute: “Bud Cort was a savant at acting, at theatre, and he was blessed with a passion for this as a young man, as he loved art." The star was shot into the limelight when director Robert Altman cast him in a supporting role in M*A*S*H (1970), then offered him a lead role in Brewster McCloud (1970). It all led to him playing Harold in Harold and Maude (1971), opposite Ruth Gordon as Maude.

For this role, he was nominated for a BAFTA award as most promising newcomer and for a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy.

Bud later went on to star in several movies, including Electric Dreams (1984), Dogma (1999), Pollock (2000) and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. (2004).

Some of his most recent appearances on TV included shows such as Ugly Betty, Criminal Minds and Arrested Development.

Back in 1979, Cort suffered a near-fatal car crash. The horrific accident mangled his face and broke several of his bones, requiring extensive plastic surgery and a year-long break from movies.

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