Veteran character actor Burt Young, who was Oscar-nominated for his role as the mumbling, grumbling brother-in-law and meat-cutting friend to Sylvester Stallone’s prize-fighting protagonist in the ‘Rocky’ films, has died at age 83. His manager said Young passed away on Oct. 8 in Los Angeles, a death first reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, citing the actor’s daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser. No cause of death was revealed.
Born in Queens, Young leveraged a weary gravitas and bare-knuckled demeanor to become one of Hollywood’s most beloved scene-stealing tough guys. He earned more than 160 film and television credits in a career spanning over half a century. The former boxer from the streets of Queens honed his craft in roles that saw him portraying mobsters, cops, and working men with soul.
Known for portraying a range of tough-guy characters, Young is best known as the irascible Paulie Pennino in all six of the original ‘Rocky’ movies. The role of the rough-hewn, mumbling-and-grumbling best friend and corner man to Stallone’s prize-fighting hero earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1976 and brought Young into the limelight. Young’s other acting highlights included Roman Polanski’s neo-noir tour de force Chinatown (1974) and Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In America (1984). He also appeared in Sam Peckinpah’s The Killer Elite (1975), Cinderella Liberty (1973), Back to School (1986) and Uncle Joe Shannon (1978).
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In addition to his work on screen, Young impacted the small screen. He appeared on numerous TV shows, including M*A*S*H, Walker, Texas Ranger, Baretta, and Law & Order. He also starred in Natasha Lyonne’s Netflix series Russian Doll and the 2021 documentary Stallone: Frank That Is.
In his later years, Young pursued painting — which he began in high school — and had several gallery shows. He is survived by his daughter, a grandson, and his wife, Gloria, who died in 1974.
Born Gerald Tommaso DeLouise in 1940, Young dropped out of school at 15 and served with the U.S. Marines in the 1950s before acting. He began with a handful of minor roles before appearing in films such as Roman Polanski’s neo-noir classic Chinatown, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He was also a talented amateur boxer who worked with legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, amassing a record of 17-1. His last onscreen appearance was in season three of the hit HBO series The Sopranos as Bobby Baccalieri Sr., a dying mafioso. He had been battling lung cancer at the time. His artwork, some of which is influenced by the Rocky franchise, can be found at Bilotta Gallery, a Florida-based “home of celebrity artwork & memorabilia.” He is also the subject of a documentary set to premiere in 2020. His son, Michael, is a renowned fashion photographer.
