Obituary — Burt Young
1940 — 2023
BURT Young, born in 1940, renowned for his role as Paulie in six “Rocky” films alongside Sylvester Stallone, passed away at 83 on October 8, 2023, according to his daughter Anne Morea Steingieser. Young earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the original 1976 “Rocky” film. Known for bringing depth to his characters, Young’s portrayal of the temperamental, jealous, yet loyal and caring Paulie Pennino left an indelible mark on the iconic movie series.
Roger Ebert praised Young’s performance in the first “Rocky,” acknowledging his character’s complexity: “Burt Young as (Adrian’s) brother — defeated and resentful, loyal and bitter, caring about people enough to hurt them just to draw attention to his grief.” Despite The New York Times offering a scathing review, Young’s portrayal was described as effective in capturing the essence of Rocky’s best friend.
Paulie Pennino, while loyal, was a problematic friend, contributing to various plot lines, including a street fight and financial troubles for the Balboas. In the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, Paulie returns to work at the meat-packing plant but later supports Rocky’s return to the ring. Young did not appear in the 2015 film Creed, as the character Paulie was said to have passed away in 2012. Beyond the Rocky series, Burt Young showcased his versatility in numerous films. He had a talent for imbuing characters with personality and sympathy, often elevating roles that might have been one-dimensional in less capable hands.
In films like Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Last Exit to Brooklyn, Young’s performances showcased his ability to bring depth to a variety of characters.
Young’s impact extended beyond film to television, where he had roles in series such as The Sopranos, Law & Order, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He even tried his hand at series-regular television with NBC’s Roomies in 1987.
Born in 1940, Burt Young’s career spanned decades and included a wide array of roles.
Despite dropping out of school to join the Marines at 15, he later trained at the Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg. His uncredited screen debut in 1969 led to a prolific career in both film and television.
Stallone paid tribute to his
Rocky co-star on Instagram, expressing that the world would miss him greatly.
Burt Young is survived by his daughter, Anne Morea.