Burt Young, who starred alongside Sylvester Stallone as brother-in-law Paulie in the “Rocky” films, has died. He was 83.
His manager, Lynda Bensky, confirmed the news in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday evening.
“Burt was an actor of tremendous emotional range. He could make you cry and he could scare you to death,” Bensky said. “But the real pathos that I experienced was the poignancy of his soul. That’s where it came from.”
Young died in Los Angeles on Oct. 8. No cause of death was given.
The New York Times was first to report the news.
Young has more than 160 TV and film credits to his name, according to IMDB, including 1974’s “Chinatown” and 2018’s “The Amityville Murders.” In 1977, Young was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his performance in “Rocky.” He was up against “Rocky” costar Burgess Meredith, who played Mickey.
Prior to his acting career, Young dropped out of school at 15 to serve in the U.S. Marines from 1957 to 1959, according to his website.
Young was also a painter. His works – some of which are influenced by the “Rocky” movies – can be found at Bilotta Gallery, a Florida-based “home of celebrity artwork & memorabilia,” according to its website. He had an art show there in October 2017, according to a post he shared on Instagram at the time.
His paintings appeared in one of his scenes in 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” per a Facebook post he shared last month.
Young is survived by his daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, his brother, Robert, and a grandson, according to The Times. His wife, Gloria, died in 1974.