OBITUARIES : Colin Higgins; Creator of ‘Harold and Maude’ Film

Colin Higgins, whose master’s thesis at UCLA became the cult favorite “Harold and Maude,” the bittersweet movie about an eccentric teen-age boy in love with an 80-year-old woman, died Friday.

The writer and/or director of such other successful films as “Silver Streak,” “Foul Play,” “9 to 5” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” was 47 and died at his Beverly Hills home. A spokesman for his business manager said he died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome complications.

Born in New Caledonia to an American father and Australian mother, Higgins graduated from high school in Australia, enrolled in Stanford University after his family moved to California, dropped out to join the Army, went to Paris to act and study after his discharge and then, finally armed with a degree from Stanford, shipped out as a seaman bound for the Orient.

While at sea, Higgins decided to return to school and concentrate on film. He enrolled at the UCLA film school, and there he conceptualized “Harold and Maude,” which, when released in 1971 with Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon, became a favorite black comedy of that decade. It continues to be shown in art houses around the world and has been adapted to the stage.

For television, Higgins wrote “The Devil’s Daughter,” a movie of the week starring Shelley Winters and, in 1985 with Shirley MacLaine, he co-wrote an adaptation of her book “Out on a Limb.” He was co-producer of the 5-hour TV special that followed in January, 1987.

Survivors include his parents and five brothers.

Funeral services will be private. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Director’s Guild Theater, 7950 Sunset Blvd.