He was known for his character Paulie Pennino in the Rocky movies: Who is Burt Young?
Young was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 for this character, in which he played the friend and future brother-in-law of boxer Rocky, played by Sylvester Stallone.
Actor Burt Young, known for his role as Paulie Pennino, the best friend of Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone in the 'Rocky' series, passed away.
WHO IS BURT YOUNG?
Burt Young was born on April 3, 1940, in New York. Young, known for his role as Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law Paulie in the most memorable series in the cinema world, Rocky, has appeared in more than 150 films throughout his career. Young, who usually plays 'tough guy' roles in the productions he stars in, has portrayed many Italian-American characters both on television and in cinema throughout his acting career. Young was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the first film of the Rocky series, which left its mark on cinema history. Other notable productions in which Young starred include "Chinatown", "The Pope of Greenwich Village" and "Once Upon a Time in America". Young, who made a name for himself as a successful painter later in his life, exhibited his paintings in galleries in different countries of the world.
WHAT ARE BURT YOUNG MOVIES?
- Chinatown 1974
- Rocky 1976
- Once Upon a Time in America 1984
- Back to School 1986
- Troubled Love 1999
- Winners Club 2011
In his message shared on social media, Stallone described Young as "a great person and artist" and said, "The world and I will miss you very much."
Gerald Tommaso DeLouise (April 30, 1940 – October 8, 2023), known professionally as Burt Young, was an American actor, author, and painter. He played Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law and best friend Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series, his performance in the first installment of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Young, who was born in New York as an Italian immigrant and named Gerald Tommaso DeLouise, served in the Navy in the 1950s.
Young, who later studied acting, built a career by appearing in television and movies.
Writer Carmel Dagan from Variety wrote that Young is an efficient and very good character actor:
“Even if he was playing a gangster, a criminal, or a goofball, he would give the person he played a character, thus making him appear as a more sympathetic person; “He would do justice to the role he played.”
In the first Rocky movie, shot in 1976, Young's character, Paulie Pennino, entered the series as Rocky's friend, and in the second movie, Rocky married Pennino's sister, Adrian.
Young, who played the character Paulie Pennino in the first six films, did not appear in the sequel, Creed, shot in 2015.
Rocky, which was nominated for an Oscar in 10 categories, was awarded in the best movie category.
Young also appeared in films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Last Exit to Brooklyn, and Troublesome Love (Mickey Blue Eyes).
He also appeared in television series such as The Sopranos, Law & Order, The Rockford Files, and M*A*S*H.