Burt Young Dies At Age 83

Burt Young, known for playing Rocky Balboa’s brother-in-law Paulie in the 'Rocky' franshise, has died at the age of 83.

“Burt was an actor of tremendous emotional range. He could make you cry and he could scare you to death. But the real pathos that I experienced was the poignancy of his soul.  That’s where it came from.”

It was revealed he died on October 8th in Los Angeles. 

He adopted the name Burt Young amid beginning acting, and has starred in over 160 films and TV shows.

One of the biggest characters he played was Paulie, Rocky Balboa’s best friend and the brother of his wife Adrian. 

His performance in the first 'Rocky' movie earned him an Oscar nomination. He went on to reprise the role in every 'Rocky' movie through to 'Rocky Balboa' in 2006.

In 2009, he revealed he was the only actor cast in 'Rocky' who didn’t have to audition. 

Sylvester Stallone saw him on the MGM lot and told him he had to be in the movie.

“I thought the script had the cleanest street prose I’d ever read. Stallone is not only a workaholic, he’s a genius who is always looking three years ahead. He has a real eyeball for what’s going on in the world.”

Before starting his acting career in 1969, he was briefly a profession boxer. And before 'Rocky,' he starred alongside James Caan in 'Cinderella Liberty,' 'The Gambler' and 'The Killer Elite.'

Outside of the 'Rocky' movies, he also starred in 'Once Upon a Time in America' and episodes of 'M*A*S*H,' 'Beretta,' 'Miami Vice,' 'Columbo,' 'The Sopranos' and 'Russian Doll.'

“For different reasons there are different movies that I like. Location is always a factor as well as the individuals involved. The creativity of the script is important along with the depth of the character and how far I am allowed to take that character. I really liked some of the work that I have written. I of course love the first Rocky film. I also enjoyed some of the episodes from way back of Baretta that won Emmys and helped get that show renewed.”

He also had a passion for painting that developed when he was 11, having won a New York City Parks contest. 

He found painting to be liberating since there was no censorship involved.

“With so many movies, my work ends up on the cutting room floor—every actor has that. With my paintings, what are they going to do?”

Burt is survived by his daughter, a brother, and a grandson. He wife Gloria passed away in 1974.