Person Biography:
Bud Cort, the American actor and comedian, was born Walter Edward Cox in New Rochelle, New York. He was the second of five children and grew up in Rye, New York, where his father, Joseph P. Cox, was an orchestra leader, pianist, and owner of a successful men's clothing store. His mother, Alma M. Court, was a former newspaper and Life magazine reporter and an executive assistant at M.G.M. in New York City.
From an early age, Bud displayed a remarkable acting ability and appeared in numerous school plays and community theater productions. He was also a talented painter, earning extra money by doing portraits at art fairs and by commission. However, he knew that acting was his true passion and began studying with his first teacher, Bill Hickey, at the HB Studios in Greenwich Village at the age of 14.
After graduating from Iona Prep School, Bud applied to the NYU School of the Arts, where he was initially rejected due to the full acting department. However, he was admitted as a scenic design major in 1967 after showing his art portfolio. He continued to study with Bill Hickey and secretly began working in commercials, off-Broadway theater, and soap operas.
Bud formed a comedy team with actress Jeannie Berlin and later with Judy Engles, performing his original comedy material at various nightclubs in Manhattan. He won first place during amateur night at the Village Gate and was signed to a management contract with the club's owner.
