Burt Young, who rose to notoriety in the “Rocky” trilogy as Paulie Pennino, Sylvester Stallone’s brother-in-law and faithful sidekick, has died. He was 83 years old at the time. His daughter Anne Morea Steingieser verified his death to The New York Times. As of this writing, no cause of death has been divulged, however he is survived by Steingieser, his brother Robert, and a grandson.
Young had a long and successful career as an actor. He was recognized for his abilities early on, having received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the first “Rocky” film. He was well-known for his portrayal of tough characters in films such as “Chinatown,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Back to School,” and “Once Upon a Time in America.” He also dabbled in television acting, appearing on episodes such as “MASH,” “Baretta,” and “Miami Vice.”
Many of Young’s colleagues and fans are grieved by his death, including Stallone, who paid a poignant homage to his late friend and colleague on social media.
Hollywood mourns the loss of Burt Young
Burt Young’s contributions to the world of film have prompted an outpouring of passionate tributes in the aftermath of his death. Sylvester Stallone was among the first to pay tribute to his late friend, writing on Instagram, “To my Dear Friend, BURT YOUNG, you were an incredible man and artist, I and the World will miss you very much…RIP.” Lynda Bensky, his manager, reminisced on the remarkable brilliance he had shown over his six-decade career: “Burt was an actor of tremendous emotional range. He could make you cry and he could scare you to death,” she wrote in a statement (via USA Today). “But the real pathos that I experienced was the poignancy of his soul. That’s where it came from.”
Fans were quick to point out how the Oscar-nominated actor enhanced their viewing experiences as well. “R.I.P. Burt Young, one of those actors you were always stoked to see,” while another penned, “Burt Young was a scene stealer throughout the entire Rocky franchise, but his performance in Rocky Balboa was tremendous. Could argue it was his best performance as Paulie.”
These testimonials demonstrate Young’s dedication to his craft. He always gave his A-game to whatever he was given, he reportedly told Boxing Scene. “I did what I could,” he explained. “It could be big budget, small budget, I turned myself inside and out for a movie. It’s the same way I write – I live for the project.”
