David Harris, Cochise in “The Warriors,” dies at 75

David Harris, known for portraying gang member Cochise in the 1979 cult classic The warriorsdied on Friday, October 25, aged 75.

His daughter told me The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer.

Born June 18, 1949 in New York City. Harris attended the High School of Performing Arts and later the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first major role was in the 1976 Emmy-nominated television film Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys. He appeared in the play the following year intelligence with Meryl Streep and John Lithgow,

He performed in 1979 The warriorsbased on Sol Yurick's 1965 novel of the same name, about the titular gang who are falsely accused of murder and then have to fight their way through a gauntlet of other street gangs on the way to Coney Island.

One of the film's iconic scenes features members of the Warriors. Cochise included, are lulled into a false sense of security by an all-female gang who suddenly turn against them, with Cochise and his companions narrowly escaping with their lives.

The film became a cult classic and the most famous role in Harris' life, for which he was very grateful.

“It feels great to know that you are part of a film that makes history,” he said in a 2014 interview. “Certain actors are lucky enough to be in a film that is simply iconic and that people will be talking about for the next thousand years.”

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Harris continued to work steadily for the rest of his career, appearing in the Oscar-nominated classic A soldier's story in 1984, but mostly had small roles in television shows including Hill Street Blues, In the heat of the night, MacGyver, HE, NYPD BlueAnd law and order. In 2005, he lent his voice to the character of Cochise The warriors Video game. His last role was in a 2019 episode of First Wives Club.

Harris is survived by his mother, daughter, sister, two brothers and two grandchildren.