# David Harris (American actor)

David Dominic Harris (June 18, 1949 – October 25, 2024) was an American television and film actor, most notable for his portrayal of Cochise, a young gang member, in the 1979 film The Warriors. He appeared as a supporting actor in a number of films and television series, and commonly played police officers and military personnel.

## Life and career

David Dominic Harris was born in New York City on June 18, 1949, and attended the High School of Performing Arts. His first role came in the 1976 television film Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys, in which he co-starred as Haywood Patterson. He followed this up with a number of supporting roles until 1979, when he appeared as Cochise in The Warriors, the role for which he is best remembered. He also appeared in the Robert Redford film Brubaker the following year. Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in a number of fairly high-profile films, and in the 1990s, he did mostly television work. He lent his voice to The Warriors video game in 2005, reprising his role as Cochise. In 2012, he appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Warden.
Harris had a daughter and two grandchildren. He died from cancer at home in New York City, on October 25, 2024, at the age of 75.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | The Warriors | 'Cochise' | |
| 1980 | Brubaker | Duane Spivey | |
| 1984 | Purple Hearts | Hanes | |
| 1984 | A Soldier's Story | Private Smalls | |
| 1986 | Quicksilver | 'Apache' | |
| 1986 | Fire with Fire | Ben Halsey | |
| 1987 | Fatal Beauty | Raphael | |
| 1987 | Under Cover | Lucas | |
| 1988 | Dead End City | Brad Bright | |
| 1990 | Operation Warzone | Colonel Harker | |
| 1997 | Black Scorpion II: Aftershock | Heckler | |
| 1997 | Form, Space & Murder | Construction Worker | Short film |
| 2000 | Dish Dogs | Shane | |
| 2013 | Maniac | Deli Owner | Short film |
| 2014 | Straight | The Dealer | Short film |
| 2015 | The Warriors: Last Subway Ride Home | 'Cochise' | Video |
| 2015 | James White | Joe | |
| 2016 | Mommy's Box | C.C. 'Pop' Nevins | |
| 2016 | His Dying Wish | Walt Harper | Final film role |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys | Haywood Patterson | Television film |
| 1977 | Kojak | Bucky Norris | Episode: "The Godson" |
| 1977 | Secret Service | Jonas | Television film |
| 1979 | The White Shadow | Rollo | Episode: "Needle" |
| 1980 | Death Penalty | Claudell | Television film |
| 1980 | Attica | T.J. | Television film |
| 1982 | Benny's Place | Ricky 'Ricky T' | Television film |
| 1984–1986 | Hill Street Blues | Darnell Karns / Bumphus | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Badge of the Assassin | Lester Bertram Day | Television film |
| 1985 | North and South | Priam | Television miniseries |
| 1986 | MacGyver | Luther | Episode: "Final Approach" |
| 1987 | Vietnam War Story II | Harris | Episode: "Home" |
| 1988 | Crime Story | Henchman | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | In the Heat of the Night | Willy Jones | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Simon & Simon | Travis Reese | Episode: "Little Boy Dead" |
| 1989 | The Equalizer | 'Hammer' | Episode: "Suicide Squad" |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Nelson Pine | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Antoine Adams | Episode: "End Game" |
| 1992–2001 | NYPD Blue | Officer Donny Simmons | 16 episodes |
| 1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | Mario | Television film |
| 1994 | In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance | Unknown | Television film |
| 1995 | Favorite Deadly Sins | Robber #1 | Television film |
| 1997 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Detective Artie Ushry | Episode: "Halloween" |
| 1997 | Profiler | Detective Marcel Roubidoux | Episode: "It Cuts Both Ways" |
| 1998 | Pensacola: Wings of Gold | Colonel LaCombe | Episode: "Soldiers of Misfortune" |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Arthur | Episode: "Captive Hearts" |
| 2000 | Any Day Now | Unknown | Episode: "Homegirl" |
| 2000 | ER | Fulton's Son | Episode: "Loose Ends" |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Detective Lamont | Episode: "Crossing the Line" |
| 2001 | Philly | Man #3 | Episode: "Loving Sons" |
| 2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Warden | Episode: "Justice Denied" |
| 2014 | Elementary | Custodian | Episode: "The Adventure of the Nutmeg Concoction" |
| 2018 | Instinct | Building Super | Episode: "Secrets and Lies" |
| 2019 | First Wives Club | Uncle Bepop | Episode: "Vengeance" Final television appearance |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | The Warriors | 'Cochise' | |