Burt Young, Rocky Star, Dead At 83
Burt Young, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Paulie Pennino in Rocky, died on October 8 in Los Angeles at the age of 83. His daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, confirmed his passing to the New York Times, although the specific cause was not disclosed, Deadline reports.
Burt Young, who portrayed Paulie Pennino in the Rocky franchise has passed away.
“To my Dear Friend, Burt Young, you were an incredible man and artist. I and the world will miss you very much… RIP,” the actor’s Rocky co-star Sylvester Stallone wrote on Instagram after the news broke.
Born on April 30, 1940, in Queens, New York, Burt Young grew up in a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood, which heavily influenced his on-screen persona. He had a challenging childhood and faced financial hardships, which later played a role in his ability to convincingly portray working-class characters on screen.
His portrayal of Paulie, a complex and often troubled character, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Burt Young’s early career was marked by struggles and minor roles in theater and television. He worked as a truck driver and a bartender while pursuing acting. Before his big break in Rocky, Young made several guest appearances in television shows like Kojak, The Rockford Files, and Baretta. His life changed dramatically when he landed a role in 1976’s Rocky.
Burt Young was cast as Paulie Pennino, the brother to Talia Shire’s Adrian and brother-in-law of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. His portrayal of Paulie, a complex and often troubled character, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. This role is often regarded as his defining moment in Hollywood.
Burt Young’s role as Paulie continued in the subsequent Rocky films, and he became an essential part of the franchise. Young also appeared in various films showcasing his range as an actor. His most notable works include 1974’s Chinatown, where he played a small but memorable role alongside Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
He appeared in The Pope of Greenwich Village in 1984 as Barney, a mobster with a penchant for canaries, and was a standout in this crime drama. Burt Young ventured into the romance genre in 1986 with a comedic role in Back to School. He also appeared in M*A*S*H and films like The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, Cinderella Liberty, and Last Exit to Brooklyn.
Burt Young grew up in a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood, which heavily influenced his on-screen persona.
Burt Young was not only a talented actor but also a skilled painter with artwork featured in galleries around the world. As an artist, he collaborated with writer Gabriele Tinti, creating the cover for the poetry collection All Over and contributing illustrations for the art book A Man. Some of Young’s actual paintings even appeared in a scene in Rocky Balboa when Paulie loses his job at the meatpacking plant.
Furthermore, Burt Young was a published author with a diverse literary portfolio. He penned two screenplays that were adapted into films and authored a 400-page historical novel titled Endings. In addition to these achievements, he also wrote two stage plays – SOS and A Letter to Alicia and the New York City Government from a Man With a Bullet in His Head.
Burt Young is survived by his daughter Anne, his brother Robert, and a grandson. His wife, Gloria, passed away in 1974. Young’s legacy in cinema is defined by his ability to make characters relatable. He will be missed by everyone.
