Actor Bud Cort, known for his roles in classic films like MASH, Brewster McCloud, and especially Harold and Maude, sadly passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 77. Beyond his film work, Cort also contributed to the DC Animated Universe, voicing the villain Toyman in popular series such as Superman: The Animated Series, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited*.
While not his most well-known role, or even the most famous voice acting performance in the DC Animated Universe, Joe Cort’s portrayal of Toyman in a few TV episodes was incredibly memorable. His performance became the definitive version of the villain for many fans and even influenced the character’s depiction in James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
Who Exactly is Toyman in the DCAU?
DC Comics
The DC Comics character Toyman has been played by three different people: two villains and a teenage hero named Hiro Okamura. The original Toyman, Winslow Schott, and arguably the most well-known, first appeared in Action Comics #64 in September 1943. He was created by Don Cameron and Ed Dobrotka. Though he appeared to be a friendly man to the public, Schott secretly used his intelligence to build dangerous, weaponized toys that he used to commit crimes.
Jack Nimble was the second character to take on the name Toyman, first appearing in Action Comics #432 in February 1974. Created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan, Nimble committed crimes in a similar way to the original Toyman, Winslow Schott, but he stood out due to his costume, which resembled that of a jester. This version of the character appeared in the 1970s animated series Challenge of the Superfriends as a member of Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom. However, this version of Toyman didn’t last long in the comics, and the original Winslow Schott quickly returned as the main character.
While Toyman is well-known as one of Superman’s foes, he’s not typically considered a major threat – he’s more of a mid-tier villain. Because he hasn’t appeared in any movies, many people who aren’t regular comic book fans aren’t familiar with the character. However, the 1996 animated series Superman: The Animated Series gave Toyman a frightening update, with Bud Cort (from Harold and Maude) providing the voice acting.
How Bud Cort’s Depiction of Toyman Transformed the Character
Warner Bros. Animation
Premiering in 1996 on Kids WB, Superman: The Animated Series significantly shaped how Superman was seen in popular culture. It introduced compelling new takes on classic villains – reimagining Brainiac as a Kryptonian computer, creating the villain Livewire, and establishing Darkseid and the New Gods as key adversaries for Superman. The show also offered a particularly well-done, yet often overlooked, version of the Toyman.
Toyman first appeared in the fourth episode of Superman: The Animated Series, following the show’s three-part premiere. The series reveals that Toyman is actually Winslow Schott Jr., the son of the original Toyman from the comics. He’s portrayed as an adult man with a doll-like head and a constant, unsettling smile, always concealing his true face. Driven by revenge, Toyman targets Bruno Manheim, a gangster who used Schott Sr.’s toy factory as a cover for illegal gambling. Schott Sr. was falsely imprisoned and died in prison, leaving Schott Jr. to grow up in foster care. Toyman’s actions are fueled by a desire for revenge and a longing to reclaim the childhood that was stolen from him.
The Toyman, as reimagined for Superman: The Animated Series, went from being a minor villain to a genuinely compelling and frightening character. Casting director Andrea Ramano specifically wanted Bud Cort, known for his role in Harold and Maude, to play this version of the Toyman because Cort perfectly embodied the character’s disturbed, childlike personality. Cort’s quiet voice and the character’s unique design – resembling a ventriloquist’s dummy – quickly made the Toyman both memorable and unsettling. There’s a clear connection between Cort’s character in Harold and Maude and this portrayal of the Toyman; the elaborate, dark humor and self-destructive tendencies of Harold are mirrored in a villain who creates deadly toys.
As a big fan of the DCAU, I always loved when Cort voiced Toyman! He did it one last time in Superman: The Animated Series with the episode “Obsession,” and then again in a Static Shock crossover called “Toys in the Hood.” Later, Toyman showed up in Justice League, but Corey Burton took over the role. Burton’s fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but it just wasn’t the same – that earlier Toyman had this really unique, creepy playfulness that was missing. Thankfully, Cort got to voice him again in Justice League Unlimited as part of Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom, which was a cool nod to his work on The Challenge of the Superfriends back in the day.
Bud Cort and the DCAU Impact’s on Toyman
The CW
After the end of the original DC animated shows, most modern versions of the Toyman character have gone back to being portrayed as Winslow Schott, the original version. In animated appearances like Superman: Doomsday and Young Justice, he’s usually a minor villain who isn’t a significant threat to Superman or other heroes. The animated series Superman: The Animated Series was an exception, presenting Toyman as a real danger and a compelling member of Superman’s enemies. Unlike Mr. Freeze from Batman: The Animated Series, the comics haven’t adopted this animated version of Toyman’s look or story.
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The characters of Winslow Schott Sr. and Jr., originally from Superman: The Animated Series, reappeared in The CW’s Supergirl. In Supergirl, Winslow Schott Jr., played by Jeremy Jordan and known as Winn, is a friend and helper to Kara Danvers, a.k.a. Supergirl. The show later reveals that Winslow Schott Sr. (Henry Czerny) has a criminal past. While Supergirl borrowed the father-son name idea from the animated series, it flipped the original storyline: the son is the hero, and the father is the villain, which is more in line with the comic books.
Bud Cort’s portrayal of Toyman in DC animated series might not be as iconic as Mark Hamill’s Joker or Clancy Brown’s Lex Luthor, but it was still excellent. His voice work, combined with the characterization in Superman: The Animated Series, created a memorable villain who deserves a place among Superman’s enemies. For many, this version of Toyman remains the definitive one.
Bud Cort joins a celebrated group of actors – like Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Eartha Kitt, and Gene Hackman – who left a memorable mark on DC Comics history through their iconic performances. His portrayal of The Toyman would be a fantastic addition to James Gunn’s new DC Universe, potentially fitting into the larger Superman storyline or serving as a threat to other heroes and corners of the universe. If The Toyman appears in a future film, it would be great to see the character’s signature, unsettling doll mask, paying tribute to Bud Cort’s performance.
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2026-02-16 21:40