He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and died in Hollywood, California from pneumonia.

Young joined the staff of the Salt Lake Herald after he graduated from high school.

In 1912, Young married Elizabeth Haight,[1] who was a great-niece of the early California Mormon leader Sam Brannan.

Young started into films by writing comedy routines for Franklyn Farnum and Brownie Vernon.

In the 1920s, he often worked on films with Lon Chaney, Tod Browning, and their editor Errol Taggart.