Burt Young

Burt Young
Young in 2012
Born
Gerald Tommaso DeLouise

(1940-04-30)April 30, 1940
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 8, 2023(2023-10-08) (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeMount St. Mary Cemetery
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2023
Spouse
Gloria DeLouise
​
​
(m. 1961; died 1974)​
Children1
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1957–1959

Gerald Tommaso DeLouise (April 30, 1940 – October 8, 2023), known professionally as Burt Young, was an American actor. He played Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law and best friend Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series, his performance in the first installment of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Young also appeared in such films as Chinatown (1974), The Gambler (1974), The Killer Elite (1975), Convoy (1978), Uncle Joe Shannon (1978), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), A Summer to Remember (1985), Back to School (1986), Last Exit to Brooklyn (1990), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Transamerica (2005), Win Win (2011), and Bottom of the 9th (2019).

Early life

Young was born on April 30, 1940, in Queens, New York City,[1] and raised in the Queens neighborhood of Corona,[2] the son of Josephine and Michael DeLouise, a high school shop teacher.[3] He was of Italian descent.[4]

Young was trained by Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio.[5]

Career

Military service

Young served a tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959; while in the Marine Corps, he boxed regularly, winning 32 of 34 boxing bouts.[6]

Acting

Young made his name playing rough-edged working class Italian-American characters, the best-known example being his signature role as Rocky Balboa's friend (and future brother-in-law) Paulie in Rocky (1976),[7] for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He is one of four actors (the other three being Sylvester Stallone, Stu Nahan, and Tony Burton) who have appeared in all of the first six Rocky films (although Talia Shire, who appears in the first five films, makes a flashback appearance in the sixth). Young did not reprise his role in the 2015 film Creed; the character was described as having died in 2012.[8]

Young appeared in such films as Chinatown, Convoy, Back to School, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Once Upon a Time in America, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Downtown: A Street Tale, and Amityville II: The Possession.

Television appearances for Young included The Rockford Files, Baretta, Law & Order, Walker, Texas Ranger, All in the Family, M*A*S*H, and Miami Vice. He made an appearance on The Sopranos ("Another Toothpick") as Bobby Baccalieri's father, who is dying of cancer and comes out of retirement to execute a hit on his godson, "Mustang Sally" Intile, as punishment for Intile having brutally beaten a family friend simply for chatting with Intile's girlfriend.

In a nod to his having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, he played a retired drill instructor in the short-lived 1987 ABC series, Roomies, where his character decides to go to college after his retirement.[3]

In 2017, Burt Young returned to the stage as an aged mob boss in The Last Vig, a play written by Dave Varriale. The show ran from January 14 to February 19, 2017, at The Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles.[9]

Painting and writing

Young was also a painter; his art has been displayed in galleries throughout the world. As an artist, he collaborated with the writer Gabriele Tinti, for whom he designed the cover for the poetry collection All Over, as well as contributing the illustrations for the art book A Man.[10] Some of Young's actual paintings were shown in a scene in Rocky Balboa when Paulie gets fired from the meatpacking plant.[11]

Young was also a published author whose works included two filmed screenplays and a 400-page historical novel called Endings.[12] He wrote two stage plays: SOS and A Letter to Alicia and the New York City Government from a Man With a Bullet in His Head.[5][13]

Personal life

Young's wife, Gloria, died in 1974. He had a daughter and a grandson. He resided in Port Washington, New York.[14]

Young owned a restaurant in the Bronx, New York. He participated in the 1984 New York City Marathon.[15]

Death

Young died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, on October 8, 2023, at the age of 83.[16][17] The immediate cause of death was ruled as cardiac arrest with contributing factors listed as myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and atherosclerosis. He was buried at Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, Queens.[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Carnival of Blood Gimpy Credited as John Harris
1971 Born to Win First Hood [19]
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Willie Quarequlo
1972 Across 110th Street Lapides
1973 Cinderella Liberty Master At Arms [19]
1974 Chinatown Curly [3]
The Gambler Carmine [20]
1975 The Killer Elite Mac [20]
Live A Little, Steal A Lot Sergeant Bernasconi [20]
1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Warden Durgom [20]
Rocky Paulie Pennino Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor[3]
1977 The Choirboys Scuzzi [20]
1977 Twilight's Last Gleaming Augie Garvas [20]
1978 Convoy Bobby 'Love Machine' Pig Pen
Uncle Joe Shannon Joe Shannon Also the writer of this film[3]
1979 Rocky II Paulie Pennino [3]
1981 Blood Beach Sergeant Royko [20]
...All the Marbles Eddie Cisco [20]
1982 Rocky III Paulie Pennino [3]
Amityville II: The Possession Anthony Montelli [20]
Lookin' to Get Out Jerry Feldman [20]
1984 Over the Brooklyn Bridge Phil [20]
Once Upon a Time in America Joe Minaldi
The Pope of Greenwich Village Eddie 'Bed Bug Eddie' Grant
1985 Rocky IV Paulie Pennino [3]
A Summer to Remember Fidel Fargo
1986 Back to School Lou [20]
1989 Going Overboard General Noriega
Blood Red Andrews [20]
Beverly Hills Brats Clive [20]
1990 Last Exit to Brooklyn Joe 'Big Joe' [19]
Betsy's Wedding Georgie [20]
Wait Until Spring, Bandini Rocco Saccone [20]
Club Fed Warden Boyle [20]
Diving In Coach Mack [20]
Backstreet Dreams Luca [20]
Rocky V Paulie Pennino [3]
1991 Bright Angel Art [20]
Red American George Maniago [20]
1992 Circle of Fear Mancini
Cattive ragazze Unknown
1993 Excessive Force Sal DiMarco
1995 Opposite Corners Unknown Direct-to-video
1996 The Mouse Himself
North Star Reno Direct-to-video
1997 She's So Lovely Lorenzo [20]
Kicked in the Head Jack [20]
The Deli J.C. [20]
Heaven Before I Die Pollof Direct-to-video
The Good Life Jimmy Never released[21]
Red-Blooded American Girl II Roy Falk Direct-to-video
The Undertaker's Wedding Alberto Direct-to-video
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes Vito Graziosi [20]
Loser Love Sydney Delacroix
2000 The Florentine Joe McCollough
Very Mean Men Dominic Piazza [20]
Blue Moon Bobby [20]
Table One Frankie Chips Direct-to-video
2002 The Adventures of Pluto Nash Gino [20]
Checkout Uncle Louie
2 Birds 1 Stallone Himself
Kiss the Bride Santo Sposato
2003 Crooked Line Mike Ameche
2004 The Wager Jack Stockman
Los Angeles Plays Itself Curly In Chinatown Uncredited, archive footage
2005 Land of Plenty Sherman [20]
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power Artie Bottolota Sr. Direct-to-video
Shut Up and Kiss Me Vincent Bublioni
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow Actor Uncredited, archive footage
Transamerica Murray [3]
2006 RevoLOUtion: The Transformation of Lou Benedetti Himself [20]
Nicky's Game Leo Singer Short film
Rocky Balboa Paulie Pennino [20]
In The Ring Himself Video documentary
Tribute to Burgess Meredith Himself (voice) Video documentary short
2007 Blue Lake Massacre Pops
Downtown: A Street Tale Gus [20]
The 21st Annual Genesis Awards Himself Video
Skill vs. Will: The Making of 'Rocky Balboa' Himself Video documentary short
Go Go Tales Murray [20]
Oliviero Rising Santino
The Hideout Mueller
Hack! J.T. Bates Direct-to-video
2008 Carnera: The Walking Mountain Lou Serosi
Rocky Jumped a Park Bench Himself Documentary short, archive footage
2009 New York, I Love You Landlord
2010 Kingshighway Mario Capriolini
2011 Win Win Leo Poplar
2012 Casting By Himself Documentary
2013 See You Tomorrow Mario Palagonia
All Over Himself - Host Video short
2014 Tom in America Michael Short film
Zarra's Law Paul Canto
Rob the Mob Joey D.
2015 The Elevator: Three Minutes Can Change Your Life George
Lostland Actor Short film
Irene & Marie John Short film
Fall 4 You Dominick Short film
2016 The Dicks Ed Short film
2017 The Neighborhood 'Jingles'
King Rat Art Stillman
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs Himself Documentary
2018 The Selfish Ones Father John (voice) Short film
6 Grandchildren And One Grandfather Grandfather
Sarah Q Grandpa
The Amityville Murders Brigante
Road to the Lemon Grove Zio Vincenzo
2019 The Brawler Salvatore
Bottom of the 9th Scaleri
Vault Don Ruggiero
Tapestry Ian
Smothered by Mothers Ivan
2020 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic Himself - Paulie Pennino Documentary short, archive audio
Beckman Salvatore
2021 Stallone: Frank, That Is Himself Documentary
Charlie Boy Luca
The Final Code Detective
TBA Way of the Warriors George Stevens In production
Asleep at the Wheel Judge In production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1969 The Doctors Bartender Episode #1785 10/10/1969
1973 The Connection Ernie Television film
1973 M*A*S*H Lieutenant Willis Episode: "L.I.P. (Local Indigenous Personnel)"
1974 The Great Niagara Ace Tully Television film
1975 Hustling Gustavino Television film
1976 The Rockford Files Stuart Gaily Episode: "The Family Hour"
1975–1976 Baretta Willy
Solomon
Johnny Checco 		Episodes: "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow"
"The Big Hand's on Trouble" (Also the writer of this episode)
"Soldier in the Jungle"
1976 Serpico Alec Rosen Episode: "The Deadly Game"
1976 Woman of the Year Ralph Rodino Television film
1977 Good Morning America Himself – Guest Episode: "17 March 1977"
1977 The 49th Annual Academy Awards Himself – Nominee Television special
1978 Daddy, I Don't Like It Like This Rocco Agnelli Television film, Also the writer of this film
1979–1980 The Mike Douglas Show Himself – Guest 2 episodes
1980 The 6th People's Choice Awards Himself – Accepting Favourite Motion Picture Award Television special
1980 Murder Can Hurt You Lt. Palumbo Television film
1983 You and Me Kid Actor Television series
1984 Miami Vice Lupo Ramirez Episode: "Give a Little, Take a Little"
1985 Airwolf Episode: "Prisoner Of Yesterday"
1985 A Summer to Remember Fidel Fargo Television film
1985 Playboy Mid Summer Night's Dream Party 1985 Himself Television film
1985 The Equalizer Louie Ganucci Episode: "The Confirmation Day"
1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ed Fratus Episode 1x23, "Road Hog"
1986 Nightlife Himself 1 episode
1987 Roomies Nick Chase 8 episodes
1990 Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride Vincent Dominici Television miniseries
1992 The Final Contract Television film
1992 Tales from the Crypt Gambler Episode: "Split Personality"
1993 Double Deception Zimmer Television film
1994 Columbo Mo Weinberg Episode: "Undercover"
1994 Crocodile Shoes Lou Benedetti Television miniseries
1995 Bless This House Mr. Riveto Episode: "The Postman Always Moves Twice"
1996–1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Jack "Soldier" Belmont 2 episodes
1997 The Last Don Virginio Ballazzo Television miniseries
1997 Law & Order Lewis Darnell Episode: "Mad Dog"
1997 Before Women Had Wings Louis Ippolito Television film
1997 The Outer Limits Captain Parker Episode: "Tempests"
1998 Greener Fields Gallagher Television film
1999 The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' Himself Television short documentary
2000 The Howard Stern Show Himself – Guest Episode: "6 May 2000"
2001 The Sopranos Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri Sr. Episode: "Another Toothpick"
2002 Alternate Realities Frank Television series
2003 The Handler Dino Mantoni Episode: "Bruno Comes Back"
2004 I'm With Her Himself Episode: "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 2"
2005–2011 Biography Himself 2 episodes
2005 The Contenders Himself 4 episodes
2007 La noche desesperada Murray Television film, archive footage
2008 Cinemania Himself Episode: "Rocky IV"
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Eddy Mack Episode: "Snatched"
2011 The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance Himself Television film documentary
2013 Baciamo le mani – Palermo New York 1958 Gillo Draghi Television miniseries (Italian)
2014 Turning Point with Frank McKay Himself Episode: "Frank McKay with Burt Young"
2015 The Jack and Triumph Show Himself Episode: "Sorvino's Pants"
2016 Brows Held High Paulie Pennino Episode: "Rocky and the Methods of Montage"
2016 Horace and Pete Horace Sr. Web miniseries, Episode #1.10
2018 Kevin Can Wait Marv Season 2
2019 Russian Doll Joe Recurring role, 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ Martone, Eric, ed. (2016). Italian Americans: The History and Culture of a People. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 278. ISBN 9781610699952. OCLC 969364579.
  2. ^ "Burt Young: Award Nominated Actor & Corona Native". Queens Gazette. December 7, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Burt Young Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007.
  4. ^ Lester, Peter (July 17, 1978). "Actor-Writer Burt Young Has An Ex-Pug's Mug, but He Can Knock Out Scripts in Three Weeks". People. Vol. 10, no. 3. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Gurley, George (July 1, 2002). "Is Burt Young Alive?". The New York Observer. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  6. ^ Gergen, Joe (February 17, 1985). "Rocky's Brother-in-Law Knows the Ropes: Burt Young Tries Boxing in Real Life as Co-Manager of a Challenger". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  7. ^ Canby, Vincent (November 22, 1976). "Film: 'Rocky,' Pure 30's Make-Believe". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Rocky's House in "Creed"". Total Rocky. January 19, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  9. ^ Klugman, Deborah (January 20, 2017). "Rocky Star Burt Young Takes the Stage as an Aging Mobster With a Problem". LA Weekly. Voice Media Group. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  10. ^ Gasparri, Elena (November 13, 2013). "Gabriele Tinti and Burt Young :: All Over". Drome magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  11. ^ "Burt Young the Painter! Plus Exclusive Photos of the Rocky Balboa Paintings! | Burt Young". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  12. ^ Jacques, Rich (January 4, 2014). "Reminder: Library to Present Burt Young One Man Show Sunday". Patch Media. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  13. ^ Kaan, Gil (January 9, 2017). "Burt Young Lightly Spars on His Life From Rocky to The Last Vig". Better Lemons. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  14. ^ Genn, Adina (February 13, 2015). "On Display: Artwork of Actor Burt Young". Patch Media. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  15. ^ Bock, Hal (October 26, 1984). "Marathon Week can be hazardous to health". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. Associated Press. p. 17. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  16. ^ Williams, Alex. "Burt Young, Rocky Actor Who Played Complex Tough Guys, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sylvester Stallone Remembers His Late Friend, Burt Young: "I And The World Will Miss You Very Much"". Deadline. 19 October 2023.
  18. ^ Kay, James (November 9, 2023). "'Rocky' star Burt Young's cause of death revealed". VT.co. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Dagan, Carmel (October 18, 2023). "Burt Young, Who Played Paulie in 'Rocky' Films, Dies at 83". Variety. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Burt Young Filmography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on August 29, 2007.
  21. ^ "The wild, untold story of The Good Life". Little White Lies. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.