Chris Ashworth, a talented actor, is most notably recognized for his portrayal of Sergei Malatov, also known as 'The Russian', on the highly acclaimed HBO television series "The Wire". Born and raised in the Virginia countryside, Ashworth developed a passion for impersonations, accents, and making people laugh during his childhood.
Initially, he considered pursuing a career in law enforcement, becoming a pastor, or playing professional baseball. However, after completing his education, where he earned associate degrees in Administration of Justice and General Studies, as well as a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, he decided to venture into the entertainment industry.
Ashworth began his career in New York City, where he dabbled in modeling, which eventually led to commercial work. He then landed roles in various indie films and drove extensively to audition and work on different projects.
Chris Ashworth's breakthrough came when he received a call from Baltimore, Maryland casting director Pat Moran, who was working on local casting for HBO's "The Wire". Moran was struggling to find an actor to play the volatile Ukrainian thug Sergei Malatov, aka 'The Russian', and asked Ashworth if he could perform a Russian accent. Ashworth replied, "I'm sure I can", and Moran told him to convince HBO that he was from Ukraine and had been in the country for two weeks. Ashworth used his natural accent and dialect ability to convincingly portray the character, despite having no prior training or experience with the Russian language.
He quickly became a fan favorite, appearing in eleven episodes, ten of which were in season two. Ashworth has also appeared in numerous other television shows and films, and currently has two of his own feature film scripts in development.
When not working, Ashworth spends most of his time in Los Angeles but frequently travels back to Virginia. His passions include mixed martial arts, the UFC, saltwater fishing, hiking, the outdoors, baseball, and college football. Additionally, he is involved in various charity work, focusing on helping the homeless and less fortunate, as well as combating sex trafficking.
