Biography
Burly Burt Young is best remembered for playing
Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law Paulie in
Rocky (1976), a role that earned him an Oscar nomination. He would reprise the role in all of the
Rocky sequels. Born Jerrry De Louise in New York City, Young was a student of
Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio before landing roles in off-Broadway plays. Before studying drama, Young had been a prizefighter, a truck driver, and had done other odd jobs. He made his film debut in
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971). Young subsequently went on to have a busy career as a supporting and character actor, typically cast as a thug or villain. In 1978, he wrote the screenplay and starred in the critically and financially unsuccessful
Uncle Joe Shannon (1978). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide