'The Warriors' actor David Harris dies aged 75

Actor David Harris, best known for his role in the 1979 film “The Warriors,” has died at the age of 75.

The actor died at his home in New York City after a battle with cancer, his daughter Davina Harris told the New York Times.

In the cult classic, Harris played Cochise – a member of the red vest-wearing Coney Island gang.

Although the film faced difficulties upon its release, it later gained a worldwide following and became a fan favorite. The Rotten Tomatoes rating is now 88%.

In 2019, Harris reflected on the film's success in a radio interview, saying he had no idea that “The Warriors” would stand the test of time.

“It wasn’t a typical gang movie,” he said at the time. “It was futuristic. It was like The Seven Samurai…It was based on a Greek army that was trapped behind enemy lines and had to fight back all night to get back to their own line – that's a true story.”

“I was in Hong Kong, I was in the Philippines, I was in Tokyo,” he continued. “I've done a lot of movies, but I get off the plane and people say, 'That's the guy from 'The Warriors'.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who recently wrote a concept album based on “The Warriors” with playwright Eisa Davis, shared a heartfelt tribute to Harris on Instagram.

“Shocked and saddened by the passing of David Harris, aka the original Cochise on 'The Warriors,'” he wrote. “We celebrated him a little over a week ago and gave him flowers for his unforgettable performance. Grateful for this moment with him. Our hearts go out to his daughter and a host of family and friends.”

In addition to his work on the film, Harris appeared in the 1980 films Brubaker, 1984's A Soldier's Story and 1980's Quicksilver. He was last seen in the 2015 film “James White”.

Harris also boasts several television credits, having appeared on shows such as Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Blue, ER and Profiler.

Born in June 1949, the New York native enrolled in the High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his passion for acting.

“I fell in love with it,” she told The Claw's Corner in 2022. “I said, you know what? I think that’s my niche.”

In addition to his work in television and film, Harris also appeared in the 1977 play Secret Service with Meryl Streep and John Lithgow.

Just a few years after the appearance, his agent put him in touch with “The Warriors” director Walter Hill.

Harris is survived by his mother, three of his siblings and his two grandchildren.