Elya Baskin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ilya Zalmanovich Baskin 11 August 1950 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Ilya Zalmanovich Baskin (Latvian: Iļja Baskins; born 11 August 1950), known professionally as Elya Baskin, is a Latvian-American character actor.[1] He first gained attention for his role in Moscow on the Hudson (1984), as Robin Williams' character's best friend.[2] He is also known for playing Peter Parker's landlord, Mr. Ditkovich, in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007) and cosmonaut Max Brailovsky in 1984's 2010: The Year We Make Contact.
Baskin was born to a Jewish family in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union, the son of Frieda and Zalman Baskin.[3] He attended Moscow's prestigious Theatre and Variety Arts College and won a Festival of Young Actors Award at the Moscow Comedy Theatre.[3]
He defected to the United States in 1976.[3] He has built a considerable career in TV and film, and is often cast as Eastern European characters.[2]
