Born in Petrograd, RSFSR, USSR. Participant in the Great Patriotic War. Defended Leningrad as part of the 22nd fortified region. In 1952 he graduated from the Leningrad Ostrovsky Theatre Institute (course of L.F. Makaryev). In 1952-1979 - actor of the Leningrad Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theatre. Since 1980 he lived and worked in the USA. Worked at the Circle in a Square Theatre on Broadway. Acted in episodic roles in American films. Member of the Actors Guild of America, was a member of the Oscar nomination committee.