Pasha Lychnikoff, also known as Pavel, was born in Moscow and studied at the Moscow Academy of Dramatic Arts. He began his acting career on Moscow's stages, performing in productions such as Gogol's Inspector General and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
In the early 1990s, Pasha moved to the United States to pursue his acting career, arriving at JFK Airport with only five dollars in his pocket and speaking limited English. He made his way to Brighton Beach, Harlem, Hell's Kitchen, and eventually Los Angeles to continue his acting journey.
Pasha's early career was shaped by encounters with influential mentors, including Jonathan Banks at UCLA Film Theatre Department and Gary Austin, founder of The Groundlings. He landed his first television guest star role on the critically acclaimed NYPD Blue, which earned him membership in the Screen Actors Guild.
While working on NYPD Blue, Pasha befriended writer, creator, and executive producer David Milch, who became a lifelong mentor and friend. Pasha's friendship with Milch led to his first series regular role on the TV drama "Big Apple" on CBS, making him the first Russian actor to become a series regular on US television.
Throughout his career, Pasha has had over 40 TV guest appearances and has starred in numerous television shows and films. His notable roles include Balzanov, a telegraph operator, in the HBO series "Deadwood", and Dmitri Rezenov, a cosmonaut, in the comedy series "The Big Bang Theory".
Pasha has also had leading roles in films such as "Miami Vice", "Charlie Wilson's War", "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", "Star Trek", and "A Good Day to Die Hard". He has also appeared in the Russian hit series "Fizruk" and has a passion for theater, producing his own play, "The Shelter", which received five Ovation Award nominations.
In upcoming projects, Pasha will be seen in recurring roles on the TV series "Ray Donovan" and "Beyond Valkyrie: the 4th Reich", as well as in the mini-series "Insomnia".
