Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1987-08-16
- Born Place: Volgograd, RSFSR, USSR
Also Known As:
Кирилл Зайцев
Kirill Zaytsev
Kirill Zaytsev is a Russian actor, director, and producer, born on August 16, 1987, in Volgograd, Russia. He began his artistic journey with a background in music, dance, and basketball. After graduating from the Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy in 2011, he pursued acting studies at the Latvian Academy of Culture and joined the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre. In 2017, Zaytsev gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Soviet basketball legend Sergey Belov in the blockbuster film Going Vertical, which earned him the 2019 Golden Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actor . Transitioning to television, Zaytsev starred in the 2019 crime drama series Cop, playing the role of John Mackenzie, an American police officer collaborating with Russian law enforcement . He continued to expand his filmography with notable roles in Gogol. Terrible Revenge (2018), Union of Salvation (2019), and The Silver Skates (2020). In 2021, he portrayed Finist the Falcon in The Last Warrior franchise, a role he reprised in the 2025 prequel Finist. The First Warrior. Beyond acting, Zaytsev made his directorial debut with the short war drama Sashka. A Soldier's Diary (2020), which garnered international acclaim and became the first short film to receive a wide theatrical release in Russia . He is also known for his participation in the 2021 season of the ice-dancing show Ice Age, where he and his partner, world champion figure skater Oksana Domnina, secured third place.
