Receive our free weekly email for the latest film news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey

Receive our The Life Cinematic email for free

Receive our The Life Cinematic email for free

The actor David Harris, best known for his role in the cult classic The Warriorsdied, aged 75.

His daughter Davina Harris revealed it The New York Times that the star, who had cancer, died on October 25.

Harris was born on June 18, 1949 in New York City and studied acting at the High School of Performing Arts and later at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He enjoyed a decades-long acting career, with his first major role being the 1976 Emmy-nominated TV movie. Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boy. Later he appeared in Secret service in 1977 alongside Meryl Streep and John Lithgow.

His biggest and most memorable role was in his first film, The Warriorsdirected by Walter Hill, where he played Cochise, a member of the Coney Island red vest gang after which the film is named.

Based on the 1967 novel by Sol Yurick, the action thriller tells the story of a gang who are falsely accused of an assassination attempt and must fight their way through New York, fending off bloodthirsty rival gangs in an attempt to to save. back home.

The film, which also stars Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright and David Patrick Kelly, is best known for its colorful and inventive gangs, including ‘The Baseball Furies’, ‘The Lizzies’, ‘The Orphans’ and ‘The Rouges’. .

The Warriors was also adapted into a video game in 2005, with many of the disco, rock and funk songs featured on the soundtrack. Harris reprized his role of voicing Cochise in the game

Despite being poorly received by contemporary critics, the film was still a minor success at the box office grossing $22.5 million (£17.35 million), well over its $4 million (£3 million) budget million). The Warriors has since achieved cult status, with Harris often speaking fondly of his involvement in the film.

Watch Apple TV+ for free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial period. Schedule automatic renewal until cancellation

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ for free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial period. Schedule automatic renewal until cancellation

Try for free

Harris said in 2019: “It wasn’t a typical gang movie. It was futuristic. It was like The Seven Samurai… It was based on a Greek army that was behind enemy lines, and they had to fight their way back all night to get back to their own line – it’s a true story.”

Elaborating on his career, he added: “I was in Hong Kong, I was in the Philippines, I was in Tokyo. I’ve made a lot of films, but I get off the plane and people say, ‘It’s the guy from.’ The Warriors.”

Harris continued working until 2019, including other credits A Soldier’s Story, Hill Street Blues, Heat of the Night, MacGyver, ER, NYPD blueAnd Law and order And First Women’s Club.