Which actor plays Rocky's friend and cornerman Paulie Pennino?

Which actor plays Rocky's friend and cornerman Paulie Pennino? Burt Young plays Paulie Pennino.

Young portrayed Paulie from Rocky (1976) through Rocky Balboa (2006), making the character one of the few figures to appear throughout the first six Rocky films. Paulie is Rocky's working-class friend, eventual brother-in-law, and occasional cornerman.

Paulie is often remembered for his connection to Rocky's training, including the meat-packing plant sequence in the original film. Young's performance also earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Rocky, a notable distinction among the franchise's cast.

A common mix-up is Tony Burton, who played Apollo Creed's trainer Tony “Duke” Evers, or Burgess Meredith, who played Rocky's trainer Mickey Goldmill. Burt Young died in 2023 at age 83.