He became famous alongside Rocky Balboa: Burt Young has now died at the age of 83. His companion Sylvester Stallone is in mourning.
Burt Young died on October 8th in Los Angeles, his daughter Anne Morea Steingieser confirmed to the New York Times on Wednesday. A cause of death was not given in the newspaper.
Burt Young had his breakthrough with the film “Rocky”. Alongside Sylvester Stallone, he played his friend and brother-in-law Paulie Pennino. The man’s role alongside Rocky Balboa was supposed to be just the beginning. He also played hundreds of roles in film and television throughout his career.
Burt Young was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Rocky. Sylvester Stallone remembers his former co-star as a “dear friend.” “You were an incredible man and artist, I and the world will miss you very much,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a black and white photo of the two. It comes from the first “Rocky” part from 1976.
Stallone’s Instagram post contains numerous comments from fans expressing their condolences. “I will forever remember Burt and his role as Paulie. Especially his famous line: ‘Rocky, if I could be anyone in life, I would like to be you,'” someone writes. “This is such sad news. I got to meet him once and he was the nicest man ever. Rest in peace,” wrote another person.
Oscar nomination and other awards
The film “Rocky” became a film sensation in 1976. The film received a total of ten Oscar nominations and won three awards, including Best Picture. Burt Young reprized his role as Paulie in all five original Rocky sequels. He was last seen in this role in 2006.
Burt Young’s other films include “Chinatown” from 1974, “The Godfather of Greenwich Village” from 1984 and “Once Upon a Time in America” also from 1984. He also had numerous guest appearances on television in series such as “M*A*S* H”, “Detective Rockford – Just Call”, “The Sopranos”, “Miami Vice”, “Columbo” and “Law & Order”.
In his later years, Burt Young, who came from New York and took acting lessons at “The Actors Studio” with Lee Strasberg, made a name for himself as a painter. The actor’s works have been exhibited in galleries around the world, according to US media reports.
Burt Young was widowed. His wife died in 1974, just five years after the birth of their only daughter.