Ilia Volok trained at the Moscow Art Theatre School under renowned Russian actor Aleksandr Kalyagin and is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio. Throughout his illustrious career, he has appeared in over 150 films, television shows, and video games.
Notable film credits include Gemini Man opposite Will Smith, directed by Ang Lee; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, directed by Steven Spielberg; Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol with Tom Cruise; Air Force One opposite Harrison Ford, directed by Wolfgang Peterson; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opposite Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher; Water For Elephants opposite Reese Witherspoon; Swordfish opposite John Travolta and Hugh Jackman; and The Immigrant opposite Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jeremy Renner, directed by James Grey.
Ilia has also made guest appearances in numerous television shows, including "The Punisher", "Magnum PI", "McGuyver", "Counterpart", "Shameless", "NCIS", "NCIS: New Orleans", "Criminal Minds", "The Americans", "Baskets", and recurring roles on Michael Bay's series "The Last Ship" and "Scandal". He even made a notable appearance in an episode of the popular sitcom "Friends", referencing Air Force One without mentioning his involvement.
The character Vladimir Kamarivsky in the Electronic Arts video game Battlefield 3 is modeled after and voiced by Volok.
Ilia's life took an unexpected turn when he left his career as a professional athlete, having won 3rd place at the world championship in rowing, to pursue acting at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School. He passed a rigorous competition and was accepted to study under the direction of Russian theatre and cinema star Aleksandr Kalyagin. Upon graduation, he was invited to work with top theatre companies, including the Moscow Art Theatre. However, he changed direction once again, coming to America with $300 and limited English to pursue his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor.
Ilia worked at a cemetery as a funeral service attendant and later as a plot salesman before getting his acting break in the movie Hail Ceaser, opposite Samuel Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Michael Anthony Hall. He has also appeared in Oliver Stone's U-Turn, The Soloist, Abduction, GI Joe 2, and Pawn Sacrifice.
Ilia frequently performs on stage, with notable theater credits including "The Awful Grace of God" at The Actors Company, "The Revisionist" at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, "Who Killed Comrade Rabbit" at the Blank Theater, "Vivien" at the Actor's Circle, and "Diary of a Madman", which won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance.
Ilia is a faculty member at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles and is represented by Endorse Management Group.
