Burt Young, who passed away on October 8, 2023, at the age of 83, was one of the most recognizable and talented character actors in Hollywood. He played a variety of roles, from tough guys to lovable lowlifes, often with a touch of humor and humanity. He is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Paulie Pennino, Rocky Balboa’s brother-in-law and best friend, in the Rocky film series.
But he also appeared in many other acclaimed films, such as Chinatown, The Gambler, The Killer Elite, Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Last Exit to Brooklyn. In this blog post, we will look back at his life and career, and celebrate his legacy as an actor.
Early Life and Military Service
Burt Young was born on April 30, 1940, in New York City, as Gerald Tommaso DeLouise. He was the son of Josephine and Michael DeLouise, a high school shop teacher. He was of Italian descent. Young grew up in Corona, Queens, and attended Newtown High School. He dropped out of school at 16 and worked as a plumber, a delivery man, and a bouncer.
Young served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959. He was a boxer during his military service, winning 32 of 34 bouts. He later said that boxing taught him discipline and self-respect.
Acting Career
Young started his acting career in the late 1960s, after studying under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. He made his film debut in 1970, in the drama Carnival of Blood. He soon landed roles in several crime and action films, such as The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, Across 110th Street, Chinatown, and The Gambler. He often played rough-edged or scary characters, often on the wrong side of the law.
Young’s breakthrough role came in 1976, when he was cast as Paulie Pennino in Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Paulie was Rocky’s friend and brother-in-law, who often helped him with his boxing career, but also caused him trouble with his drinking and gambling. Young portrayed Paulie with a mix of humor, anger, and vulnerability, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He reprised the role in all five Rocky sequels, becoming one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.
Young also worked with some of the most acclaimed directors in the industry, such as Sam Peckinpah, Sergio Leone, Robert Altman, and Sidney Lumet. He appeared in films such as The Killer Elite, Convoy, Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, A Summer to Remember, Back to School, and Last Exit to Brooklyn. He showed his versatility and range as an actor, playing different types of characters, from renegade truckers to mafia bosses, from war veterans to college professors.
Young also had a prolific television career, appearing in shows such as The Rockford Files, Baretta, Law & Order, Walker, Texas Ranger, All in the Family, MAS*H, and Miami Vice. He had a memorable guest role on The Sopranos, as Bobby Baccalieri’s father, who was dying of cancer and came out of retirement to execute a hit on his godson.
Young continued to act until his death, appearing in films such as Transamerica, Win Win, and Bottom of the 9th. He also wrote and starred in a one-man show called Artist Found in Port Washington, based on his life and experiences. He was also a painter and a poet, and published two books of his artwork and poetry.
Personal Life and Death
Young married Gloria DeLouise in 1961. They had a daughter, Anne Morea, who is also an actress. Gloria died of cancer in 1974. Young never remarried, and said that Gloria was the love of his life. He also said that he was very close to his daughter and his granddaughter, Caleigh.
Young died on October 8, 2023, in Los Angeles, California, of natural causes. He was 83 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. He was survived by his daughter, his granddaughter, and his brother, Robert Morea, who is also an actor.
Young was mourned by his fans and colleagues, who praised him as a versatile and talented actor, and a kind and generous person. Stallone, who considered Young a friend and a mentor, wrote a heartfelt tribute on his Instagram account, saying: "Burt Young was a great actor, a great friend, and a great soul. He was like a brother to me, and I will miss him dearly. He gave us one of the most memorable characters in cinema history, and he will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace, Paulie."
What Is Burt Young Movies?
Burt Young was an American actor who appeared in many movies, especially in the crime and action genres. He is best known for his role as Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. Some of his other notable movies are:
Chinatown (1974): A classic neo-noir film directed by Roman Polanski, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Young played Curly, a client of Nicholson’s private detective character.
The Gambler (1974): A drama film directed by Karel Reisz, starring James Caan and Lauren Hutton. Young played Carmine, a loan shark who lends money to Caan’s gambling-addicted professor character.
The Killer Elite (1975): An action thriller film directed by Sam Peckinpah, starring James Caan and Robert Duvall. Young played Mac, a hitman who works with Caan’s CIA agent character.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984): An epic gangster saga directed by Sergio Leone, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. Young played Joe, a corrupt police chief who clashes with De Niro’s Jewish mobster character. - The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984): A crime comedy-drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts. Young played Bed Bug Eddie, a powerful mafia boss who is robbed by Rourke and Roberts’ small-time crook characters.
Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989): A gritty social drama film directed by Uli Edel, based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr. Young played Big Joe, a factory worker who struggles with his pregnant daughter’s relationship with a soldier.- Transamerica (2005): A road trip movie directed by Duncan Tucker, starring Felicity Huffman and Kevin Zegers. Young played Murray, a mechanic who helps Huffman’s transgender woman character and her estranged son.- Win Win (2011): An indie sports comedy film directed by Thomas McCarthy, starring Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan. Young played Leo, an elderly client of Giamatti’s lawyer character, who has a grandson who is a talented wrestler.These are some of the movies that Burt Young starred in or had a supporting role in. He was a versatile and talented actor, and a kind and generous person. He will be remembered and missed by his fans and colleagues.
What Are Some Of Burt Young Awards?
Burt Young was an award-winning actor who received many nominations and honors for his work. Some of his awards are:
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Paulie Pennino in Rocky (1976).
He won a Stinker Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his role as Paulie Pennino in Rocky Balboa (2006). He also won a Stinker Award for Worst Fake Accent: Male for his role as Pig Pen in Convoy (1978).
He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Garden State Film Festival in 2012.
He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hoboken International Film Festival in 2014.
He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northeast Film Festival in 2015.
These are some of the awards that Burt Young received or was nominated for. He was a versatile and talented actor, and a kind and generous person. He will be remembered and missed by his fans and colleagues.
What Is Burt Young Net Worth?
Burt Young had a net worth of $4 million at the time of his death. He earned his wealth from his acting career, which spanned over five decades and included roles in films such as Rocky, Chinatown, and Once Upon a Time in America. He was also a painter and an author, and published two books of his artwork and poetry.
Controversy And Activism Of Burt Young
Burt Young was not known for being involved in any major controversy or activism during his life and career. He was mostly focused on his acting, painting, and writing. However, he did express some opinions on various topics, such as:
He was critical of the Hollywood system and the lack of opportunities for older actors. He said in an interview: "I think Hollywood has become a very corporate place. It’s not about art anymore. It’s about money and marketing. And they don’t want to take risks with older actors. They want young and pretty faces. But there are so many great stories to tell about people who have lived and experienced life."
He was supportive of Sylvester Stallone’s efforts to revive the Rocky franchise with the films Rocky Balboa (2006) and Creed (2015). He said in an interview: "I think Sly is a genius. He knows how to connect with the audience and make them feel something. He has a vision and he follows it. And he respects the legacy of Rocky. He doesn’t try to change it or ruin it. He tries to honor it and add something new to it."
He was proud of his Italian heritage and his role in portraying Italian-American characters. He said in an interview: "I love being Italian. I love the culture, the food, the music, the history. And I love playing Italian characters. I think they are very rich and complex and human. They have flaws, but they also have heart. They have humor, but they also have drama. They have passion, but they also have loyalty. They are real people."
These are some of the views that Burt Young shared in his interviews and appearances. He was not a controversial or activist figure, but he was a versatile and talented actor, and a kind and generous person. He will be remembered and missed by his fans and colleagues.
Conclusion
Burt Young was a remarkable actor, who played a variety of roles, from tough guys to lovable lowlifes, often with a touch of humor and humanity. He is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series, but he also appeared in many other acclaimed films, such as Chinatown, The Gambler, The Killer Elite, Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Last Exit to Brooklyn.
He also had a prolific television career, appearing in shows such as The Rockford Files, Baretta, Law & Order, Walker, Texas Ranger, All in the Family, MAS*H, and Miami Vice. He was also a painter and a poet, and published two books of his artwork and poetry. He was a versatile and talented actor, and a kind and generous person. He was a legend in the industry, and a friend to many. He will be remembered and missed by his fans and colleagues.
