Gig Young was born Byron Elsworth Barr on November 4, 1913, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was raised in Washington, D.C. by his parents, John and Emma Barr. His father worked as a chef at a reformatory. Young had older siblings and grew up in a family that encouraged his interests.

He attended McKinley High School, where he discovered his passion for acting. He participated in school plays, which helped him develop his skills on stage. After graduating from high school, Young took a job as a used car salesman but continued to study acting in the evenings.

A turning point came when he moved to Hollywood. A friend offered him a ride if he paid half the gas, and this opportunity motivated him to pursue a career in acting. He gained some amateur experience before receiving a scholarship to the well-known Pasadena Playhouse. Young worked hard, taking two jobs to support himself while honing his craft.

His first acting appearances were in films like "Misbehaving Husbands" in 1940 and the short "Here Comes the Cavalry" in 1941. While acting in a play called "Pancho," he and co-star George Reeves were noticed by a talent scout from Warner Brothers. This led to both actors signing contracts with the studio.

Initially, he performed under the name Byron Barr and appeared in several films without much recognition. His breakout role came in 1942 when he played a character named "Gig Young" in the film "The Gay Sisters." The name quickly became his professional moniker as he transitioned to more significant roles in Hollywood.

In 1941, Young enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, where he served as a pharmacist's mate in a combat zone in the Pacific. After the war, he returned to acting and was cast in various films, eventually becoming known as a popular and likable second lead in many productions.

Throughout his early career, Young continued to work in theater, television, and film, gaining critical acclaim and recognition for his performances.

On October 19, 1978, Gig Young and his wife, Kim Schmidt, were found dead in their apartment at The Osborne in Manhattan. The police believed that Young shot his wife and then himself. Young was discovered face down in his bedroom, holding a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. His wife was found next to him, also face down. Young had shot himself in the mouth, with the bullet exiting the back of his head. His wife was shot in the back of the head.

No suicide note was found at the scene. A diary was opened to a page that said, "we got married today," indicating their recent marriage just three weeks prior. It was reported that the couple likely died around 2:30 p.m. after a building employee heard gunshots. Their bodies were discovered five hours later.

A motive for the murder of Kim Schmidt and Young's subsequent suicide was never uncovered. Young had previously been under the care of a psychologist and psychotherapist, Eugene Landy, who later faced serious professional issues.

After the incident, Young's remains were taken to Beverly Hills for his funeral, but he was buried in Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville, North Carolina, under his birth name, Byron E. Barr.