Burly character player Burt Young came to acting late in life. After a tour with the US Marines and years cleaning, selling and installing carpets, he agreed to help a friend by auditioning with her for famed acting teacher Lee Strasberg. Young was accepted; his friend wasn't. After honing his craft on stage, he segued to films in 1971 in "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" and almost immediately registered with audiences. His second feature, "Cinderella Liberty" (1973), introduced him to James Caan, with whom he has remained close, the two appearing together in six films, and "Chinatown"