David Harris, Known For His Role As Cochise In ‘The Warriors,’ Dead At 75

David Harris, best known for his role as Cochise in the 1979 cult classic film The Warriors, has died at the age of 75.

According to Harris’ daughter, who confirmed the actors death to the New York Times, the thespian passed away on Friday (Oct. 25) at his home in New York City following a bout with cancer.

In addition to his daughter, Harris is survived by his mother, Maude Marie Harris, sister, Jeannette C. Harris-Zwerin, brothers Arthur A. Harris and Vincent J. Harris, and two grandchildren.

A New York native, Harris got his start in acting as a teenager, after joining his high school’s drama department at the suggestion of a teacher. “I fell in love with it,” Harris once said of the craft. “I said you know what, I think this is my niche.”

After scoring his first major role in the Emmy-nominated TV film, Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys, in 1976, Harris was cast alongside future Hollywood legends Meryl Streep and John Lithgow in the play Secret Service the following year.

However, his career would be defined by his portrayal of Cochise, a gang member in the 1979 film, The Warriors, which was initially panned by critics before going on the gain popularity as one of the more beloved movies of its era.

“We thought it was a little film that would run its little run and go, and nobody would ever talk about it again,” Harris said of The Warriors in a 2019 interview with the New York Times. “I was in Hong Kong, I was in the Philippines, I was in Tokyo. I’ve done a lot of movies, but I get off the plane and people go, It’s the guy from The Warriors.”

After his appearance in The Warriors, Harris was cast in films including Brubaker, Quicksilver, and James White, as well as TV shows Hill Street Blues, MacGyver, ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and NYPD Blue.

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