Actor David Harris, who appeared in dozens of television and film roles throughout his decades-long career but was best known for the 1979 cult classic The Warriors, died from cancer at his home in New York City last week. He was 75.
His daughter, Davina Harris, confirmed his death to the New York Times on Sunday.
Harris was born in New York City on June 18, 1949 and attended the High School of Performing Arts. After graduating, he made a few TV appearances, including in the television film Secret Service alongside Meryl Streep and John Lithgow, before landing the role of Cochise in The Warriors that would make him famous.
The film centers on a New York City street gang who had to make the long, violent journey from the north end of the Bronx to their home turf on Coney Island after being framed for the murder of a respected gang leader. The film has been referenced in pop culture numerous times throughout the years, and went on to inspire comic book series, merchandise, and video games; including a 2005 video game also titled The Warriors, that Harris voiced his character in.
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Despite the fact that Harris continued to act through most of his life, with his last role being in a 2019 episode of First Wives Club, he would always remain proud of The Warriors.
"We thought it was a little film that would run its little run and go, and nobody would ever talk about it again," he said in a 2019 YouTube interview with ADAMICradio. “I was in Hong Kong, I was in the Philippines, I was in Tokyo,” he added. “I’ve done a lot of movies, but I get off the plane and people go, It’s the guy from ‘The Warriors.’”
"It feels great to know that you’re a part of some film that’s history," he said in another 2014 interview with The Five Count. “Certain actors are blessed enough to get in a film that is just iconic and people are going to talk about for the next thousand years."
