Bud Cort was born as Walter Edward Cox in New Rochelle, New York, but grew up in near-by Rye, New York. Bud's family consisted of his three younger sisters, an older brother, his mother, and his ailing father, a World War II veteran who suffered from multiple sclerosis. His mother, Alma Mary Cox (maiden name: Court), was a reporter and merchant, who also worked for MGM studios. His father, Joseph Parker Cox, was a bandleader, pianist, and merchant. Most of his adolescence was spent caring for his father and sisters, reading, and painting.

As a teenager he was a local portrait painting prodigy. This interest developed into study at New York University, where he majored in design from 1967 to 1969. Soon, he began "moonlighting" between classes, doing television commercials and as a delivery boy in a soap opera called "The Doctors". Eventually, he quit school and started a popular nightclub comedy act. It was while in a comedy review called "Free Fall," at Upstairs at the Downstairs in 1969, that he was "discovered" by director Robert Altman, who then cast him in "M*A*S*H," and later in his first leading role in the film "Brewster McCloud". Also, around this time, he made appearances in such television shows as "The Governor and J.J.," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," and "Room 222".

Soon after he made "Brewster McCloud" came the 1971 black comedy classic, "Harold and Maude," which practically launched his career. In retrospect, Bud sees this role as a "blessing and a curse" in that he then had the pull to get noticed, but also found himself getting typecast. Around this time Bud also became what is known in show business as a "hard sell", perhaps known for what he turned down as for the roles he accepted. In the bio from the 1979 Paramount Pictures re-release of "Harold and Maude"

Turning down an opportunity to star in his own T.V. series in 1979, Bud, instead, chose to read - gratis - J.D. Salinger's immortal "Catcher In The Rye" for L.A.'s progressive FM station KPFK. According to Jay Kugelman, the producer of the radio broadcast, "Bud was Holden. It was eerie." Instead of accepting a slew of "weirdo" roles, including turning down the part of 'Billy Bibbit' in the 1975 film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Bud became heavily involved in the theatre.

With the 1980's and 1990's, although Bud kept up a steady workload, immersing himself in voice-over work, radio and nightclub performances, theatre, small roles in television, and roles in independent and B-rated movies, of which in the latter, he was often uncredited, there remained a decline of presence in mainstream cinema and television productions. His last leading role was in the 1991 independent film, "Ted & Venus," of which he co-wrote the screenplay and directed. In 1996, Bud received rave reviews for his role as the lead in "He, Who Gets Slapped", an adaptation of Leonid Andreyev's tragic comedy.

Over the course of his career, Bud has studied acting. His memberships include The LA Classical Theatre Works (founding member), The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Cinematheque du Paris, and The Directors Unit of the Actors Studio. For his work in Harold and Maude, Bud was awarded the Crystal Star for Best Actor from the Academy of Cinema, Paris, France, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for the film. Bud, at the time, was the youngest actor ever to be given an "Homage" by the Cinematheque Francaise - joining the ranks of Charlie Chaplin, Sir Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles and Buster Keaton. Bud was presented to the French by Jacques Tati.

With a background in improvisational and stand-up comedy, and work in night clubs, for which he also showcases his singing talents, sometimes Bud branches out into these fields between film roles. Early in his career he also toured the United States and Europe with a cabaret act called "Gershwin Tribute" and, in the late 1970s, took part in a special celebration for the Gershwin's at Carnegie Hall called "Ira, by George". Once in an interview, he spoke of having made an unreleased album of American standards while he was living in Paris.

A few years ago, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Harold and Maude, Bud began working on a book that he hoped would accompany a special-edition laser disc of the film, as well as getting in touch with the remaining cast and crew for possible interviews. However, due to a long-standing gripe between Bud and Paramount Pictures, the book was never published and the interviews were never filmed.

Currently, Bud continues to pursue film, theatre, television, radio, and night club work, and lives in Southern California.