Burt Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burt Young
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Young on the set of Tom in America in New York City on October 23, 2012
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| Born |
Gerald Tommaso DeLouise
April 30, 1940 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | October 8, 2023 (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1970–2023 |
| Spouse(s) |
Gloria DeLouise
(m. 1961; died 1974) |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1957–1959 |
Burt Young (born Gerald Tommaso DeLouise; April 30, 1940 – October 8, 2023) was an American actor, writer, and painter. He was best known for playing Paulie Pennino in the Rocky movies. Paulie was the brother-in-law and best friend of the main character, Rocky Balboa. For his role in the first Rocky film, Burt Young was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Young also appeared in many other popular films. These include Chinatown (1974), The Gambler (1974), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), and Back to School (1986). He was a talented artist and author too.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Burt Young was born on April 30, 1940, in Corona, Queens, New York. His parents were Josephine and Michael DeLouise. His father was a high school shop teacher. Burt Young had Italian family roots.
He learned acting from the famous teacher Lee Strasberg. This training took place at the Actors Studio.
A Career in Acting and More
Serving in the Military
Before becoming an actor, Burt Young served in the United States Marine Corps. He was a Marine from 1957 to 1959. During his time in the Marines, he was a boxer. He won 32 out of 34 boxing matches.
Becoming a Famous Actor
Burt Young became known for playing tough, working-class characters. His most famous role was Paulie in the Rocky movies. Paulie was Rocky Balboa's friend and later his brother-in-law. Young was nominated for an Oscar for this role in 1976. He was one of only four actors to appear in all six original Rocky films. His character, Paulie, was said to have passed away in the 2015 movie Creed.
Young acted in many well-known movies. Some of these include Chinatown, Convoy, and Back to School. He also appeared in TV shows like The Rockford Files, M*A*S*H, and Law & Order. In 1987, he played a retired drill instructor in the TV show Roomies. This role was a nod to his own time in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In 2017, Burt Young returned to the stage. He acted in a play called The Last Vig in Los Angeles.
Talents in Painting and Writing
Beyond acting, Burt Young was also a skilled painter. His artwork was shown in galleries around the world. He even worked with writer Gabriele Tinti on book covers and illustrations. Some of Young's actual paintings were shown in a scene in the movie Rocky Balboa.
Young was also a published author. He wrote two screenplays that were made into movies. He also wrote a long historical novel called Endings. He wrote two plays for the stage as well.
Personal Life and Passing
Burt Young was married to Gloria, who passed away in 1974. He had one daughter and a grandson. He lived in Port Washington, New York.
Burt Young died in Los Angeles on October 8, 2023. He was 83 years old.
Images for kids
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Young on the set of Tom in America in New York City on October 23, 2012
See also
In Spanish: Burt Young para niños
