Burt Young death updates — Sylvester Stallone leads tributes as iconic Rocky star with boxing record dies aged 83

Fans remember Burt Young as one of the greats

Film fans around the world were quick to pay tribute to Burt Young, especially for his portrayal of Paulie in the Rocky franchise. 

One fan called Paulie “one of the greatest movie characters of all time”.

Another added on X: “There is no greater character in American fiction than Paulie from the Rocky movies, who began as a violent borderline psychopath; entered a romantic relationship with a robot; personally blew Rocky’s entire fortune (?); and ended his life as a kindly old man.”

“A character actor’s character actor,” said another. “He leaves behind an amazing body of work.”

Burt Young’s friendship with Sly Stallone

Sylvester Stallone and Burt Young were close friends since first working together on Rocky (1976).

Stallone led the tributes paying respect to Young following the actor’s death at the age of 83. 

He posted on Instagram: “To my Dear Friend, BURT YOUNG, you were an incredible man’s and artist, I and the World will miss you very much…RIP.”

In a 2017 interview with Theater Mania, Young opened up about his iconic role of Paulie in the Rocky franchise and his friendship with Stallone.

“Sylvester comes to me, he introduces himself. ‘You gotta do this part.’ I said, ‘I’m gonna do it,’ and he lit up like a pumpkin,” Young said.

“We’ve been very close ever since. He’s a friendly guy, Sylvester. Very intelligent, very quick.”

More tributes flow for Burt Young

Diane Franklin, who starred alongside Burt Young in The Possession (1982), paid tribute to the actor.

She wrote on X: “It is with great sadness I share the news of actor, Burt Young passing. He was 83. For those who don’t know he played my father in ‘AMITYVILLE II:The Possession.’ He was a beautiful, funny, talented man, with a deep soul. He will be deeply missed. #ripburtyoung.”

How Burt Young got the role of Paulie in Rocky

Burt Young was approached directly by Sylvester Stallone to play the role of Paulie, partly due to his experience as a boxer. 

In a 2009 interview with boxing publication The Sweet Science, Young recalled: “I was on the MGM lot when Sly Stallone came over and introduced himself to me, told me he wrote Rocky and said, ‘You gotta do it … I wanted to do it right away, but I wanted to twist their arms a little bit, not look too eager.”

Despite Paulie being Young’s breakout role, he was still one of the more veteran actors in the cast when he first got the role.

“I was the only actor that didn’t audition in the first Rocky,” he told The Rumpus in 2017. “And I got the most money for it.”

Burt Young’s late career as a painter

Young was also an accomplished painter, especially late in his career, and had his works displayed in galleries around the world.

His paintings even appeared in scenes from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the sixth instalment of the Rocky series. 

Young worked with several well-known artists, including Italian writer and poet Gabriele Tinti.

Tributes flow for Burt Young

Many paid their respects to Burt Young following news of the actor’s death at the age of 83.

Young’s manager Lynda Bensky called him “an actor of tremendous emotional range”.

“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,” she told People.

Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in the films, wrote on X: “RIP, Burt Young! A beautiful and talented soul. He was such an integral part of the Rocky family. ‘You want the bird? Go get the bird.’ Paulie will be with us forever.”

Actor and producer James Woods added: “Burt Young was a unique and authentic actor. When he played a role, you couldn’t imagine anyone else. We did Once Upon a Time in America and a little independent called Kicked in the Head together. RIP, my friend.”