Actor Burt Young, best known for his iconic role as Paulie in “Rocky,” has died at the age of 83.
The Oscar-nominated star passed away in Los Angeles on October 8, per Fox News Digital. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
“Burt was an actor of tremendous emotional range,” Young’s manager Lynda Bensky told the outlet in a statement.”He could make you cry, and he could scare you to death. But the real pathos that I experienced was the poignancy of his soul. That’s where it came from.”
Young was a prolific actor who participated in more than 160 Hollywood productions, but he’s best known for his turn playing Sylvester Stallone‘s friend and eventual brother-in-law Paulie Pennino in six of the “Rocky” movies. Only three actors were given roles throughout the franchise, and he was one of them. The others were Stallone and Tony Burton.
Stallone posted on social media after learning of Young’s passing. “To my Dear Friend, BURT YOUNG, you were an incredible man and artist, I and the World will miss you very much … RIP.”
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Young, whose real name was Gerald Tommaso DeLouise, was raised in Queens, New York. He was of Italian descent and built his career playing tough-guy Italian characters, including but not limited to his role in “Rocky.”
The actor also appeared in other films, including “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.”
Young also worked in television, including appearances on “The Rockford Files,” “Baretta,” “Law & Order,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “All In The Family,” “M*A*S*H,” “Miami Vice,” and “The Sopranos.”
He was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his work on the first “Rocky” movie, which premiered in 1976. Besides acting, Young was a painter who exhibited his work in galleries around the world. He’s also a published author and screenplay writer.
Young was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, who died in 1974. He is survived by a daughter and a grandson.