Ilya Zalmanovich Baskin (Iļja Baskins; born 11 August 1950), known professionally as Elya Baskin, is a Latvian-American character actor.
1976
He defected to the United States in 1976.
He has built a considerable career in TV and film, and is often cast as Eastern European characters.
1984
He first gained attention for his role in Moscow on the Hudson (1984), as Robin Williams' character's best friend.
2004
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.
He attended Moscow's prestigious Theatre and Variety Arts College and won a Festival of Young Actors Award at the Moscow Comedy Theatre.
