Burt Young, Beloved Rocky Star, Passes Away at 83: A Heartbreaking Loss for Fans

Burt Young, a former boxer who found fame playing tough guys in Hollywood, died earlier this month, his daughter Anne Morea Steingieser told the New York Times.

He was 83.

CNN has contacted Young's manager for a statement.

Young became famous for playing the character of Paulie, Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law, in the "Rocky" film series. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his exceptional portrayal.

Sylvester Stallone, who portrayed Rocky, expressed his heartfelt tribute to BURT YOUNG on Wednesday. Stallone shared a photo of himself and Young from one of their collaborative movies and wrote, "To my beloved friend, BURT YOUNG, you were truly remarkable as both a person and an artist. The world will deeply mourn your absence... Rest in peace."

Born in Queens, a borough of New York City, Young spent his childhood in the working-class neighborhood of Corona. At the young age of 16, he joined the Marines with the assistance of his father, who helped him fabricate his age, as reported by the Times.

During his time in the Marines, Young started pursuing boxing and continued his journey in the sport after leaving the military. He briefly had a stint as a professional boxer, under the guidance of the renowned trainer and manager Cus D'Amato.

Young described in a 2006 Bright Lights interview that his involvement in acting began in his twenties due to his interest in a young woman who expressed a desire to study under Lee Strasberg but was unable to gain admission.

"I had no knowledge of who Lee Strasberg was. I mistakenly believed it was a female," Young reminisced. "Nonetheless, I decided that if I could assist her, I might have the chance to hold her hand. Surprisingly, Strasberg took my request seriously when I reached out to him."

Acting, Young said," had everything I was fishing for."

"In my life till then, Id used tension to hold myself upright," he said. "Lees great gift to me was relaxation."

He began his career with a credited role as a bartender on an episode of "The Doctors" in 1969. However, it was his work as a character actor in popular television series such as "M*A*S*H" and "Little House on the Prairie," as well as notable films like "Chinatown" and "Serpico," that truly propelled him forward.

His career reached new heights with his portrayal of Paulie in the highly successful 1976 film "Rocky." Interestingly, he shared in an interview with "The Sweet Science" in 2009 that he was the only actor who didn't have to go through the audition process.

"I was at the MGM lot when Sly Stallone approached me and introduced himself. He mentioned that he had written Rocky and insisted that I should be a part of it," Young reminisced. "I had an immediate desire to jump in, but I also wanted to exert a subtle pressure, without appearing overly enthusiastic."

"In my opinion, the script had the most polished and straightforward writing style I had ever come across," he further remarked. "Stallone isn't just a hard worker; he is a visionary who constantly thinks ahead. He possesses a genuine talent for understanding current trends and events."

Young's versatility as an actor was solidified by his ability to portray both menacing characters and those with depth. Throughout his career, he worked on various projects, including "Cuba and His Teddy Bear," where he shared the screen with esteemed actors Robert De Niro and Ralph Macchio in a production that enjoyed success on and off Broadway. Additionally, he took on the role of seasoned mobster Bobby Bacala Sr. in the acclaimed television series "The Sopranos."

More recently, Young appeared in "Kevin Can Wait" and "Russian Doll." He was also attached to several projects in production at the time of his death, according to hisIMDb profile.