Born to Win, Starring - George Segal as J.J., Karen Black as Parm, Hector Elizondo as Vivian (Geek), Robert DeNiro as the undercover narcotics officer, Paula Prentiss as Veronica, Jay Fletcher as Billy Dynamite, Burt Young as a thug, Ed Madsen as the detective,
Directed by - Ivan PasserBorn to Win is a 1971 film about a junkie named J.J. - played by George Segal who tries to turn his tragic life around. Ironically, George Segal currently stars in a hit tv show - called Just Shoot Me, ... but I digress... J.J. is a classic urban druggie loser with a tattoo - Born to Win, hence the title. He tries to make one last score with his girlfriend Parm, played by Karen Black. The film also stars Robert DeNiro as an undercover cop, Paula Prentiss as Veronica, J.J.'s ex wife - who is also a junkie, Hector Elizondo as the dealer, Vivian, and Burt Young, as muscle for the criminal element. Burt Young is best known as Adrian's (played by Talia Shire) brother Paulie in the Rocky movies with Sylvester Stallone as the gritty boxer, Rocky Balboa, from Philadelphia.