Burt Young’s Story: The Man Who Played “Paulie” in Rocky Opens Up About His Family and His Craft

00:00:12
Speaker 1: This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people. And to search for the Our American Stories podcast, go to the iHeartRadio app, to Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Bert Young is an immediately recognizable character actor whose half-muttered voice and flinty gaze made him the perfect fit for Rocky as Sylvester Stallone’s ill-mannered brother-in-law, Paulie. Without any further ado, here’s Bert Young with his story.

00:00:46
Speaker 2: Yes, I’m Bert Young. I was born in Corona, Queens, New York. I have the greatest parents. My pop, it became like a minister in high school. His name was Michael. He was a sheet metal coming for iceman. He could do anything, build anything. He could smock. You’re pretty good, too. He’s a tough guy himself. He was a great guy. My mother, Josephine, she lived to about ninety-three—the most beautiful lady ever. Protected me from everything. Mama knew I couldn’t do wrong. When I needed money as a kid, my father would give me twenty-five cents. I said, “Mama, I need two grand.” She said, “Mike, write out of checks!” On the check, that was that. As she spoke, he listened. The only trouble I ever had was when I left home. I believed in myself in life. I had seventeen pro fights. I had never lost a prof. I believed in myself. That was a very good fighter. Custom Mottel was my first manager. Charlie Go was a trainer who trained Marciano. He converted me from south put to right end. You know, in those days you couldn’t fight left ended, you know, but fighting it was part of my nature. And I did an exhibition for Muhammad Ali that was one of my high spots at the Olympic Auditorium in California. We become fast friends, very good. You never said, but you give her a box? Who gets said getting punched in the face? You know, growing up, I was early in the Marine Corps, sixteen. I was half a hoodlum, you know, really. I carpet lay in business; sixty men working on a short dollar. You know, I was pretty unhappy. And this beautiful girl, she was a ballbaide, and the Jackson Heights Ginmo started. Asked her if she ever thought of being an actress, and she lit up, and she said she wanted to started with Least Strospect, and I thought that was a girl. I don’t know who the hell Least Strospect was, but I figured I can get it in anywhere. So I found out who he was. Wrote him a letter. “I don’t know if acting has anything for me, but I’m treading water. See me,” and he did so. I never saw tension in the man’s face, but I fear you, an emotional library. Says, “Would you work with me?” “Yes?” And I was able to take myself serious.

00:04:03
Speaker 1: Well.

00:04:03
Speaker 2: I read the script Rocky, the Rocky script. It was like a masterpiece of in simplicity. It was half a character, half reality to you. But it was very touching, very moving. It was like a moving poetry, beautiful. I’m in the commissary in California. A young guy squatched next to me. He says, “Mister Young, so Vester Stallone.” I wrote, “Rocky.” “I congratulations a proud.” He says, “You gotta do it. Let me twist that arm a little bit. I’m gonna do it.”

00:04:46
Speaker 1: You know.

00:04:47
Speaker 2: That’s when we first met each other. I was the highest-paid actor in the first Rocky, more than he was. I was a strong piece of writing. I didn’t take a chance. I dove into it. You don’t have to go too far for her. He’s very bright and funny too, well. We worked very well together, very good. We never had a harsh moment. Really, my life worked with him, and he’s fast; the shoes fast. We would have shot after Rocky, but by now, you know, I never knew it was going to be go through the seal. I didn’t know what huge it’s were. Rocky had a crashing the door down, and that was a lot of fun. You know, my papa was much more talented. I was acting before he died, and he didn’t understand it because he knew me as a holder. We bring him to screenings earlier. I had a projection room in Beverly Hills, in my house out there. We’d show some of them movies, the houses. He couldn’t get it, couldn’t get it. I don’t think it can put me in a bottle as an actor and as as an artist. Perhaps the acting, I’m a little more structured. I pick, I mean, bullets to use to relax into, to fatten up. Koby greed, it could be anger, and I fattened that up. The personal things that I used to get there, police was quick and crafty, but I have many personal hobbists that were not me. You know, I mean, as warm as I can make him. Well, you had to forgive the sucker, for it is pretty ugly guy. Many times, you know, they miscast me. I’m a lovable son of a gun. Uh’s just, I go straight astraight every.

00:06:59
Speaker 1: There, and a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Greg Hangler, and a special thanks to Platinum Platypus for their work on this interview with Bert Younger. Straight and simple like Rocky. What he said about Rocky is so true of so much great storytelling. It’s simple, it’s straight, and it moves people. The story of Bert Young; the story about so much. Here on Our American Stories, Leehabibe here, the host of Our American Stories. Every day on this show, we’re bringing inspiring stories from across this great country, stories from our big cities and small towns. But we truly can’t do the show without you. Our stories are free to listen to, but they’re not free to make. If you love what you hear, go to OurAmericanStories.com and click the donate button. Give a little. Give a lot. Go to OurAmericanStories.com and give.