Actor
Burt Young
Born 30 April 1940 · New York City, New York, USA — died 8 October 2023
Burt Young (born Gerald Tommaso DeLouise, 1940–2023) was an American actor, also a painter and writer. He is best remembered as Paulie, the gruff brother-in-law and friend of Rocky Balboa, across the Rocky series. He also built a long career as a character actor in 1970s and 80s crime dramas.
Key films
Rocky (1976)
Introduced Paulie, his signature role, and earned him an Oscar nomination.
Chinatown (1974)
Supporting role in Roman Polanski's landmark neo-noir, an early major credit.
The Gambler (1974)
Supporting part in a acclaimed 1970s New York drama starring James Caan.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Supporting role in Sergio Leone's epic gangster saga.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Returned as Paulie in the series' late-career revival, closing out his best-known character.
Key awards
- 1977: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Rocky)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 127
- 1970Carnival of Blood · as Gimpy (as John Harris)Actor
- 1971Born to Win · as First HoodActor
- 1971The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight · as Willie QuarequloActor
- 1972Across 110th Street · as LapidesActor
- 1973Cinderella Liberty · as Master at ArmsActor
- 1973The Connection · as ErnieActor
- 1974Chinatown · as CurlyActor
- 1974The Gambler · as CarmineActor
- 1974The Great Niagara · as Ace TullyActor
- 1975The Killer Elite · as MacActor
- 1975Hustling · as GustavinoActor
- 1975Murph the Surf · as Sgt. BernasconiActor
- 1976Rocky · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 1976Harry and Walter Go to New York · as Warden DurgomActor
- 1976Serpico: The Deadly Game · as Alec RosenActor
- 1976Woman of the Year · as Ralph RodinoActor
- 1977Twilight's Last Gleaming · as Augie GarvasActor
- 1977The Choirboys · as ScuzziActor
- 1978Convoy · as Pig PenActor
- 1978Uncle Joe Shannon · as Joe ShannonActor
- 1978Daddy, I Don't Like It Like This · as Rocco AgnelliActor
- 1979Rocky II · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 1980Blood Beach · as Sergeant RoykoActor
- 1980Murder Can Hurt You! · as Lt. PalumboActor
- 1981...All the Marbles · as Eddie CiscoActor
- 1982Rocky III · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 1982Amityville II: The Possession · as Anthony MontelliActor
- 1982Lookin' to Get Out · as Jerry FeldmanActor
- 1984Once Upon a Time in America · as JoeActor
- 1984The Pope of Greenwich Village · as Bed Bug EddieActor
- 1984Over the Brooklyn Bridge · as PhilActor
- 1985Rocky IV · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 1985A Summer to Remember · as Fidel FargoActor
- 1986Back to School · as LouActor
- 1987Medium Rare · as Harry CostasActor
- 1988Hello Actors Studio · as SelfActor
- 1989Going Overboard · as General NoriegaActor
- 1989Last Exit to Brooklyn · as Big JoeActor
- 1989Wait Until Spring, Bandini · as RoccoActor
- 1989Blood Red · as AndrewsActor
- 1989Beverly Hills Brats · as CliveActor
- 1990Rocky V · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 1990Betsy's Wedding · as GeorgieActor
- 1990Bright Angel · as ArtActor
- 1990Backstreet Dreams · as LucaActor
- 1990Diving In · as Coach MackActor
- 1990Club Fed · as Warden BoyleActor
- 1991Americano rosso · as George ManiagoActor
- 1992Bad Girls · as LeoActor
- 1992Circle of Fear · as ManciniActor
- 1993Excessive Force · as Sal DiMarcoActor
- 1993Double Deception · as ZimmerActor
- 1993The Final Contract · as Francesco Della CroceActor
- 1996North Star · as RenoActor
- 1996Firehouse · as Chief SheaActor
- 1997She's So Lovely · as LorenzoActor
- 1997Hot Blooded · as RoyActor
- 1997Kicked in the Head · as JackActor
- 1997The Undertaker's Wedding · as AlbertoActor
- 1997Before Women Had Wings · as Louis IppolitoActor
- 1997The Deli · as JCActor
- 1997Heaven Before I Die · as PollofActor
- 1997The Mouse · as Burt YoungActor
- 1999Mickey Blue Eyes · as Vito GraziosiActor
- 1999The Florentine · as Joe McColloughActor
- 1999The Wasteland · as JoeActor
- 1999Loser Love · as SydneyActor
- 1999The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' · as SelfActor
- 2000Very Mean Men · as Dominic PiazzaActor
- 2000Table One · as Frankie ChipsActor
- 2000L'uomo della fortuna · as Don Ettore VisoneActor
- 2000Never Look Back · as Warden GavinActor
- 2000Blue Moon · as BobbyActor
- 2001The Boys of Sunset Ridge · as Hank BartlowskiActor
- 2001The Day the Ponies Come Back · as John StollerActor
- 2002The Adventures of Pluto Nash · as GinoActor
- 2002Kiss The Bride · as Santo SposatoActor
- 2002Plan B · as Sal PalermoActor
- 2002Checkout · as Uncle LouieActor
- 2003Crooked Lines · as MikeActor
- 2004Land of Plenty · as ShermanActor
- 2004Downtown: A Street Tale · as GusActor
- 2005Transamerica · as Murray SchupakActor
- 2005Carlito's Way: Rise to Power · as Artie Bottolota Sr.Actor
- 2005Bio. · as SelfActor
- 2005Nicky's Game · as Leo SingerActor
- 2006Rocky Balboa · as Paulie PenninoActor
- 2006Tribute To Burgess Meredith · as Self (voice)Actor
- 2006The Making of 'Last Exit to Brooklyn'Actor
- 2007The Hideout · as MuellerActor
- 2007Hack! · as J.T. BatesActor
- 2007Blue Lake Butcher · as PopsActor
- 2007Skill vs. Will: The Making of 'Rocky Balboa' · as SelfActor
- 2008New York, I Love You · as LandlordActor
- 2008Go Go Tales · as MurrayActor
- 2008Carnera: The Walking Mountain · as Lou SoresiActor
- 2009Oliviero Rising · as SantinoActor
- 2010Kingshighway · as Mario CaprioliniActor
- 2011Win Win · as Leo PoplarActor
- 2011The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance · as SelfActor
- 2012Casting By · as SelfActor
- 2012The Shoemaker · as Nicky the GreekActor
- 2013See You Tomorrow · as PalagoniaActor
- 2013Abigail Harm · as Mr. WarrenActor
- 2014Rob the Mob · as Joey DActor
- 2014Tom in America · as MichaelActor
- 2014Zarra's Law · as Paul CantoActor
- 2015The Elevator: Three Minutes Can Change Your Life · as GeorgeActor
- 2015Irene & Marie · as JohnActor
- 2017John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs · as SelfActor
- 2017The Neighborhood · as JinglesActor
- 2017King Rat · as Art StillmanActor
- 2018The Amityville Murders · as Michael BriganteActor
- 2018Sarah Q · as GrandpaActor
- 2019Vault · as Don RuggieroActor
- 2019The Brawler · as SalvatoreActor
- 2019Six Children and One Grandfather · as Mr. BloomActor
- 2019Epiphany · as Crab AppleActor
- 2019Tapestry · as IanActor
- 2019Smothered by Mothers · as IvanActor
- 2019Road to the Lemon Grove · as Zio VincenzoActor
- 2020Beckman · as SalvatoreActor
- 202040 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Stallone: Frank, That Is · as SelfActor
- 2021The Final Code · as DetectiveActor
- 2021Tomorrow's Today · as LucaActor
- 2025Medium Rare Cold Case · as HarryActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.