Young received his dramatic training under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. He had established himself playing tough guys during the first half of the 1970s, working in such major pictures as The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, Across 110th Street, Cinderella Liberty, Chinatown, The Gamble, The Killer Elite and Harry And Walter Go To New York.

Following Rocky in 1976, he starred in Uncle Joe Shannon and the TV film Daddy, I Don't Like It Like This, both of which he also wrote, and in Convoy and The Choirboys.

His 100-plus acting credits include the major films Once Upon A Time In America, Amityville II: The Possession, The Pope Of Greenwich Village, Last Exit To Brooklyn, Mickey Blue Eyes and The Adventures Of Pluto Nash. Among his most recent movies are Hack! Blue Lake Massacre, Oliviero Rising, Carlito's Way: Rise To Power, Nicky's Game and Transamerica.

His numerous television appearances include The Sopranos, Law And Order, Oprah Winfrey's Before Women Had Wings, and the mini-series The Last Don, Crocodile Shoes, The Maharaja's Daughter.