How tall was Burt Young

Burt Young's Height

5ft 7 ¾ (172.1 cm)

American actor, best remembered for playing Paulie Pennino in the Rocky films. He also appeared in films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Mickey Blue Eyes, The Killer Elite, Convoy and Amityville II: The Possession.

How tall is Burt Young
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Add a Comment50 comments

Average Guess (10 Votes)
5ft 7.88in (172.4cm)
The Batman 97808 said on 28/Aug/22
Looked 5'8 peak to me. He has horrid posture which makes him look much shorter than he is.
Keith 5'10 said on 22/Feb/22
One of the worst postures ever! Easy 5'8" in Rocky 1 and 2.
He also looked taller than Ralph Macchio in 1986
Rising174cm said on 30/Dec/20
Only a complete fool or someone with an agenda would ignore a wide shot on video in a favor of a waist up still(let alone) on steps, especially when footwear is the same in both cases. In any event Burt could have been 172-173 cm based on his bad posture and the '86 photos with Ralph Macchio. 5'7.5" is possible, but conservative.
Sotiris Gravas said on 13/May/19
@Rising You conflate opinion w/ fact. In your case, they're mutually exclusive.

The fact that I find you annoying AF is a perfect confluence of fact and opinion.
Rising174cm said on 4/Mar/19
@Pierre: Burt has a very obvious camera advantage there. As I showed, Sly was an inch taller than Burt in that scene with half an inch less footwear when they were equal distance from the camera as I showed in the post directly below yours. There's no question Sly was taller than Burt by a minimum inch and judging by that scene, more like 1.5" when footwear is accounted for.
Pierre said on 1/Mar/19
Burt slouch lots of times imo during the movie Rocky .Here is a pic "behind the scènes" = Click Here and for one time he's standing straight.by considering postures and heels(and angle of the picture) Sylvester is max the same height as Burt by this pic
Rising - 174 cm said on 16/Jan/19
@Sotiris: The repeatedly calling Sly "tiny" is getting a bit excessive, imo. Anyway, Sly was an inch taller than Burt with a half inch or so less footwear: Click Here Another wide shot with the same footwear and Sly still an inch taller: Click Here They were on stairs in the still you're posting: Click Here (Go to 1:22:11 to see they're on stairs) Whatever their heights, Sly has always been taller than Burt.
Rising - 174 cm said on 15/Jan/19
With 5'9.5" listed Jack Nicholson from Chinatown: Click Here I didn't see 2" between them, especially considering Burt's posture.
Sotiris Gravas said on 14/Jan/19
How tall does that make Tiny Sly...? Click Here
The Shredder said on 26/Nov/17
Burt = 5'8 , Macchio = below 5'8 at the time , De Niro = Lifts.
Rising - 174 cm said on 17/Sep/17
Thanks, Rob. I do think he was taller than Macchio in the mid 80s as well: Click Here Click Here
Rising - 174 cm said on 7/Aug/17
Rob, do you think 5'8" or at least 172 cm might be closer here with a prime Carl Weathers? Click Here

Burt honestly doesn't look that short to me there and considering he often has terrible posture and Carl wore bigger heels for those scenes, I've always thought he could be closer to 5'8" than 5'7" for a measurement. He had pretty terrible posture, but the difference between Burt and Sly wasn't that big when footwear was about even. And a prime De Niro with better posture and more footwear only looks about 3 cm taller here: Click Here
Editor Rob
he might have been 5ft 8 then
RisingForce said on 25/Feb/17
He always had terrible posture, but some of the photos in the link Ron posted on Ralph Macchio page make 5'8" peak look believable to me. Click Here He didn't look more than 5 inches shorter than Carl Weathers in Rocky 3 either, imo.
Mario said on 5/Jun/16
Two years ago I worked with mr young and it seemed to me 5.8
meezemaker said on 12/Oct/15
in rocky, sky looks to have an inch on him when sly and him are walking through the slaughterhouse. 5'6 will push sly on 5'7 what is wrong since he got more and less the same height than Kurt Russell 5'9 (we can see both walking barefoot side by side, same height in Tango & cash). We can guess Sly around 5'9 and maybe a little less like 174 and an inch less for young, so 171cm sounds quite good for me.
Arch Stanton said on 31/Aug/14
To be honest, even the 70s I couldn't see 5'7.5, I guessed more 5'6 range but he was portly and I've not compared him really.
Arch Stanton said on 31/Aug/14
Rob can you update with American actor best known for playing Paulie Pennino in the Rocky films. He also appeared in films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Mickey Blue Eyes, The Killer Elite, Convoy and Amityville II: The Possession.

Sorry to keep saying "Rob" all the time LOL but if I don't say it I figured you're less likely to see it. I'm happy to use a different word we can agree specifically for flagging the update requests. How about "Chuck Norris" or something?
Editor Rob
no, I do read it and yes it helps me from having to type out all the names at times. I am slowly going through each page, in fact I got lost at one point and am starting from beginning, just tidying bits up, correcting any obvious mistakes etc.
nickysantoro said on 1/Nov/13
Unless he lost a lot of height I doubt 5'6". Unless someone has a height scale on hand when meeting Mr young. I seriously doubt 5'3". That's bogus. I say he looked what sites have him as,between 5'7 and 5'8".
eggbert said on 16/Jun/13
Seemed a lot shorter like 5'3".I don't care how tall he was, he was a cool dude.
Irving Cajas said on 17/Dec/11
This is the evidence to show that Sylvester Stallone is 5'7-5'7.5 when Stallone and Burt Young walked next to each other Stallone appeared to be like 1-2 inches taller but Burt was wearing low shoes like as if he were barefoot and Stallome had like 4 inch heels like they used during the 70s
lol said on 29/Jun/11
Small Man says on 19/Oct/10
In the final Rocky film,Rocky, and Paulie are walking to the fight next to each other and are exactly the same height.


I disagree...walking in boxing shoes is like walking barefoot...so if burt young is 5.8...he's 5,9 with shoes on. If sly was in boxing shoes in that scene...it's normal that they are the same height since sly is probably around 5.9 now.
the shredder said on 28/Feb/11
Rob , what weight range do you think in Rocky ?

Editor Rob
200 pounds? I've not seen the movie for so long! I got about 1000 films unwatched on my shelves.
small Man said on 29/Oct/10
Exactly jtm, so Stallone is no taller that 5ft 6in.
glenn said on 11/Mar/09
absolutely.he looked it in the last rocky.
RisingForce said on 10/Mar/09
I wouldn't be surprised if he's still 5'8" and has been since Rocky.
glenn said on 26/Feb/09
this is still up? he was a strong 5-8 in 2001.
RisingForce said on 24/Feb/09
Rob, he was barely shorter than Milo Ventimiglia in Rocky Balboa. There's no way he's only 5'6".
RisingForce said on 3/Jan/09
Me neither. He may look shorter because of posture at times but 5-6?

He's still likely above 5-7 and I see no reason to doubt that he was atleast 5-8 in his prime.
glenn said on 1/Jan/09
he was 5-8 when i saw him in 2001.where this 5-6 comes from i dont know.
RisingForce said on 1/Jan/09
He looked atleast 5-8 next to Carl Weathers in Rocky 3.
THE REAL ANONYMOUS said on 12/Nov/08
Rick, that is a excellent story. Cugini means cousin in Italian. Can you share any thoughts Burt had about Stallone, height,personality?
RisingForce said on 8/Nov/08
Yeah I like pretty much the entire Rocky cast. Burgess Meredith may have been my favorite.

I agree that Burt was 5'8", probably 5'7" now. 5'6" seems too low.
leonari said on 7/Nov/08
Burt is a great actor. He was close to 5'8" if not that when young.
RisingForce said on 6/Nov/08
When Rocky punches the meat he's in Converse shoes(0.5"-0.6") and Burt is in boots( about 1.75"). Even with a probable 1.25" footwear advantage Burt looks over an inch shorter.
leonari said on 7/Oct/08
Frank2: Have you ever met Burt Young?
leonari said on 7/Oct/08
They never look the same but there are many, many scenes throughout the Rocky series where they are very close.Makes you wonder...He was 5'8" and yes totally has the body of a little man.
Davey said on 14/May/08
In rocky 1 when stallone didnt have hes high heels on they looked about the same.
sal said on 3/May/08
Great meeting you Glen.
What supermarket, you're making me hungry at 1:14am in the morn.
Rick said on 18/Apr/08
Burt is just about 5 ft 8. He was in a film that I co-wrote: "Cugini". At the time he was working out alot with weights and a heavy-bag. He was actually managing a fighter at that time. He was built like a tank. He's a terrifiic guy by the way. I talked "Rocky" and "The Pope Of Greenwich Village" with him for over a month!
glenn said on 29/Sep/07
exactly anonymous.
Anonymous said on 28/Sep/07
has a weird body .looks like a little man but I also think he was a strong 5'8 that would make sense since I believe sly is 5"10
glenn said on 28/Sep/07
2001 it was.i was shocked he appeared even a hair over 5-8.i never expected him this tall either.
glenn said on 28/Sep/07
rob-where did you get such a low 5-6?

Editor Rob
when you last seen him does he still look in the 5ft 7+ range. Maybe I'm quick to think he's shrinking.
the shredder said on 28/Sep/07
I agree with Glennjamin ! Rob this height is too low for Burt .. He was 5'8 for sure at peak and still a good 5'7 !
JT said on 27/Sep/07
I see him every few months at the supermarket. He's in the 5'7" to 5'8" range.
the shredder said on 26/Sep/07
Rob , if Burt was 5'7.5 then , and 5'6 now .. then Talia Shire is more like 5'2 .. even in Rocky days !
darren said on 24/Sep/07
No way Burt Young is 5-7 and a half. He's gotta be like 5-4 or 5-5.
asian dude said on 28/Feb/07
Yeh this dude is about 5'4 to 5'5, he looks tiny in rocky.
dmeyer said on 5/Apr/06
stallone in rocky alwais apear at lest 5 cm taller
guest said on 25/Mar/06
There is no way he is that tall he is like 5'5 in rocky stallone towered over him and stallone is 5'7

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