Burt Young, who played best friend Paulie across six of the “Rocky” movies and landed a supporting Oscar nomination for his work in the 1976 original, has died. He was 83.
His character appeared across the initial six “Rocky” films as the loyal, caring but also hotheaded and problematic friend of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. The character died off screen before the “Creed” films.
Young was extremely prolific, a classic character actor often hired to play goons who were able to elicit sympathy and empathy. Notable roles include Rodney Dangerfield’s chauffeur and bodyguard in “Back to School,” a young hood in Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America,” a fisherman in Polanski’s “Chinatown,” and a trucker in Peckinpah’s “Convoy”.
He was also a driver in “The Killer Elite,” a mob boss in “Mickey Blue Eyes,” a hard-working husband in “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” a crim in “The Gambler,” a parent of a transwoman in “Transamerica,” a wrestling promoter in “All the Marbles” and a double crossed client in “Win Win”.
His TV work includes guest roles in “The Sopranos,” “Columbo,” “Tales From the Crypt,” “Law & Order,” “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “The Outer Limits” among others along with a regular role in the short-lived “Roomies”.
Young was also a painter whose work appeared in several galleries. He is survived by a daughter, Anne Morea.
Source: The New York Times, Deadline
