Igor Zhizhikin
- Actor
Igor Jijikine is a Russian-American actor best known for his powerful
scenes opposite Harrison Ford in
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
He was born Igor Zhizhikin, in 1965, in Russia. Young Igor was fond of
movies and acting; he was also a good sportsmen. He attended the Moscow
State College of Physical Culture and trained in gymnastics, soccer,
ice skating and snow skiing, graduating as Master of Sports of the
USSR. He also studied acting, martial arts and acrobatics, and
performed with the Moscow State Circus. In 1989, he was with the Moscow
Circus on tour in the USA, but his manager took all the money and
disappeared. At that time 24-year-old Jijikine was left penniless, he
lived on the streets, but still decided to stay and work in America.
Since then, Jijikin's life has been as hectic and turbulent as some of
the characters he played on stage and in film. He survived three
marriages, tried several non-acting jobs, worked as acrobat with such
Las Vegas casinos as Circus-Circus and Stratosphere, founded a circus
agency, and became known as "The Russian Bear" in Las Vegas. In 1991 he
landed the leading part in a Las Vegas production of 'Samson and
Dalilah'. A few years later he worked with the Cirque du Soleil's
"Mysterie" in Las Vegas.
In the 2000s, Jijikine took acting classes in Hollywood. There he was
noticed by an agent, and eventually switched to film, becoming typecast
as a "bad guy." Jijikine made his big screen debut in
Blood Work (2002) under the
directorship of Clint Eastwood, then
appeared opposite Quentin Tarantino in
two episodes of the TV series
Alias (2001). He also appeared in about
40 commercials, and became the face of video game 'Red Alert'.
His big brake came with supporting role as Russian Colonel Dovchenko
opposite Cate Blanchett and
Harrison Ford in the 4th film of
the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by
Steven Spielberg, who called
Jijikine "the best bad guy."
scenes opposite Harrison Ford in
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
He was born Igor Zhizhikin, in 1965, in Russia. Young Igor was fond of
movies and acting; he was also a good sportsmen. He attended the Moscow
State College of Physical Culture and trained in gymnastics, soccer,
ice skating and snow skiing, graduating as Master of Sports of the
USSR. He also studied acting, martial arts and acrobatics, and
performed with the Moscow State Circus. In 1989, he was with the Moscow
Circus on tour in the USA, but his manager took all the money and
disappeared. At that time 24-year-old Jijikine was left penniless, he
lived on the streets, but still decided to stay and work in America.
Since then, Jijikin's life has been as hectic and turbulent as some of
the characters he played on stage and in film. He survived three
marriages, tried several non-acting jobs, worked as acrobat with such
Las Vegas casinos as Circus-Circus and Stratosphere, founded a circus
agency, and became known as "The Russian Bear" in Las Vegas. In 1991 he
landed the leading part in a Las Vegas production of 'Samson and
Dalilah'. A few years later he worked with the Cirque du Soleil's
"Mysterie" in Las Vegas.
In the 2000s, Jijikine took acting classes in Hollywood. There he was
noticed by an agent, and eventually switched to film, becoming typecast
as a "bad guy." Jijikine made his big screen debut in
Blood Work (2002) under the
directorship of Clint Eastwood, then
appeared opposite Quentin Tarantino in
two episodes of the TV series
Alias (2001). He also appeared in about
40 commercials, and became the face of video game 'Red Alert'.
His big brake came with supporting role as Russian Colonel Dovchenko
opposite Cate Blanchett and
Harrison Ford in the 4th film of
the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by
Steven Spielberg, who called
Jijikine "the best bad guy."