Boris Krutonog
Boris Leo (Lee) Krutonog (born July 26, 1960) is a Moldova {former USSR) born actor, producer and entrepreneur. Known for major supporting roles in American film and television. Some of his notable works are The Hunt for Red October, Star Trek VI, The Italian Job, The Americans (TV series) and others.[1][2] Krutonog also co-created and Co-Executive Produced Dog The Bounty Hunter, a flagship hit reality series on A&E Networks.[3] Additionally, Krutonog is President and CEO of AmWest Ambulance, an emergency ambulance company in Los Angeles. Krutonog is also a well-known Voice-Over actor, with many Video Games credits to his name.
Contents
Early Life
Krutonog was born in Chisinau, Moldovan SSR. His parents, Lev (Leib) Krutonog and Ada Krutonog come from a long lineage of Levi’s and Cohanim in the Rabbinical tradition. The family emigrated to Israel (Rehovot) in 1976.
Inspired at 12 years old by Theodore Dreiser’s classic The Financier, Krutonog dreamed of moving to America and running a business. And so, at 18, armed with 395 dollars, Krutonog arrived in NYC looking for opportunities. Yeshiva University was followed by Columbia University where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering. Then an acting class he took on a dare, took him on a 25-year journey of self-exploration and creative expression.[4]
He graduated as an Industrial Engineer from Columbia University.[1]
Career
After a 2-year stint at the McDonnell Douglas aerospace company, Krutonog took up acting full time and was accepted to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A year later, together with a friend and a playwright Stephen Romagnoli, Krutonog launched a theater company in NY’s East Village, where Romagnoli wrote and directed the plays, and Krutonog produced and starred in them. Their collaboration “Stealing Heaven“ had a successful run at the Off-Broadway’s Samuel Beckett theater, which Krutonog produced under the pseudonym Sirob Gonoturk (Krutonog in reverse).[5]
And then Krutonog was “discovered” at a party in NYC, where a stranger approached and stated he needed a Russian man for a scene in an action film he and his buddies had been shooting in upstate New York that weekend. Krutonog traveled 3 hours to shoot that one scene, in which, he had only one line! Krutonog was invited back to star in the subsequent 3 low-budget action films in which he acted, constructed sets, operated cameras and wrote his very own scenes.
A few months later an agent showed that footage to director John McTiernan, who immediately cast him in ‘The Hunt For Red October’.[1] That was followed by ”Star Trek VI”, “Monolith”, “Love Affair (with Warren Beaty)”, “Air Force One”, “The Italian Job”, and many others.
He is one of only five actors, along with James Cromwell, who originally played a character in a "Star Trek" film before reprising their role in a "Star Trek" television series. He starred as Lt. Commander Lojur in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) and later reprised his role in Star Trek: Voyager: Flashback (1996).[1][6][7]
In 1994, after reading about the bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman in Anthony Robbins’ book “Awaken the Giant Within”. Krutonog called Dog Chapman and secured his life rights. 10 years of rejections later, the show was launched on the A&E network as the highest-rated reality cable show in history. Krutonog served as Co-Executive Producer on the series for 8 years[8] and was the best man at Dog and Beth Chapman’s wedding.[9][10][11][7]
In 1998 Krutonog co-wrote a feature film titled 'Alexander the Great' with Tom Epperson about the Russian Mob in LA, where the lead character thinks he is actually Alexander the Great.[7] The script had been optioned numerous times and is currently in development with Roger Donaldson attached to direct.[12]
In 2000 Krutonog and Dmitry Netkach launched a Cosmonaut Training Camp in Star City, Russia, where American space enthusiasts trained alongside real astronauts and cosmonauts. They performed zero-gravity endurance flights, underwater weightlessness simulation exercises, endured centrifuge’s G-forces, etc.[13]
In June 2003, Krutonog filmed the capture of bail jumper and wanted serial rapist Andrew Luster by Dog the Bounty Hunter and his crew in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.[7] Krutonog, the bounty hunters and Luster were all arrested and spent 6 days in Mexican jails. Dog The Bounty Hunter TV Series was launched shortly thereafter.[14][10] That same year Krutonog also starred in “Spinning Boris”, where his character Braynin helped steer President Boris Yeltsin’s 1996 bid for re-election.[15]
In July of 2010 Krutonog’s dream of running a business in the United States came full circle when Krutonog launched AmWest Ambulance in Los Angeles. Krutonog continues to serve as President and CEO of AmWest Ambulance, and getting involved in community and charity work. In December of 2020, AmWest became one of only 3 ambulance companies in Southern California licensed to provide Covid-19 vaccinations.[16][17]
In 2015 Krutonog was cast in the Golden Globe and Peabody awards winning TV series The Americans. Originally Krutonog was hired for one episode, but the show’s creators (Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields) loved the character and made it a regularly recurring character for the last four seasons.
Personal life
Krutonog was married to Maureen Kedes 1999 – 2011 with whom he shares two sons – Sam Krutonog and Nolan Krutonog.[18] Russian Magazine “Cinematograph” recently published an article stating that actor Boris Krutonog looks very much like Vladimir Putin and should play him in a movie.[19]
Film and television appearances
Filmography
| Year | Title | Roles |
| 2022 | Devil's Fruit | (post-production) |
| 2021 | Another Girl | Sam Tverdovsky |
| 2021 | Payback | Slava |
| 2019 | Full-Dress | Cohen |
| 2013 | Delirium | Yuri Komarovsky |
| 2012 | A Beer Tale | Mr. Volkov |
| 2011 | Where the Road Meets the Sun | Raffi |
| 2003 | Spinning Boris | Felix Braynin |
| 2003 | The Italian Job | Yevhen |
| 2000 | Thirteen Days | Alexander Fomin |
| 1999 | Black and White | Peeping Tom |
| 1999 | The Auteur Theory | Italian Man - Paradiso's Film |
| 1998 | Modern Vampires (TV Movie) | Concierge |
| 1997 | Air Force One | MiG Leader |
| 1997 | Contact | Astronaut (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Make a Wish, Molly (Short) | Molly's father |
| 1995 | My Antonia (TV Movie) | |
| 1994 | Love Affair | Second Officer |
| 1994 | Shrunken Heads | Thug Shot in Head |
| 1993 | My Family Treasure | Preet |
| 1993 | Monolith | Rourke |
| 1991 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | Helmsman Lojur |
| 1991 | Comrades in Arms | Mercenary (uncredited) |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Slavin - Red October |
| 1988 | Shocktroop | Mischa |
| 1988 | Search and Destroy | Boris Otlaff |
| 1988 | Covert Action | Orloff |
TV Appearances
| Year | Title | Roles |
| 2018 | The Americans (TV Series) | Igor Burov |
| S6 E10 - START (2018) | ||
| S6 E04 - Mr. and Mrs. Teacup (2018) | ||
| S5 E12 - The World Council of Churches (2017) | ||
| S5 E10 - Darkroom (2017) | ||
| S5 E09- IHOP (2017) | ||
| S5 E08 - Immersion (2017) | ||
| S5 E06 - Crossbreed (2017) | ||
| S5 E05 - Lotus 1-2-3 (2017) | ||
| S5 E01 - Amber Waves (2017) | ||
| S4 E05 - Clark's Place (2016) | ||
| S4 E04 - Chloramphenicol (2016) | ||
| S3 E08 - Divestment (2015) | ||
| S3 E02 - Baggage (2015) | ||
| 2016 | Castle (TV Series) | Sergei Mishkin |
| S8 - E11 - Dead Red (2016) | ||
| 2011 | Chaos (TV Series) | Sokolov |
| S1 E6 - Eaten by Wolves (2011) | ||
| 2010 | Look (TV Series) | Ivan |
| S1 E3 (2010) | ||
| S1 E2 (2010) | ||
| S1 E1 (2010) | ||
| 2010 | Cold Case (TV Series) | Bela Ionescu |
| S7 E17 - Flashover (2010) | ||
| 2009 | Crash (TV Series) | Marco |
| S1 E13 - The Pain Won't Stop (2009) | ||
| S1 E05 - Your Ass Belongs to the Gypsies (2008) | ||
| 2007 | 24 (TV Series) | Vasili |
| S6 E13 - Day 6: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (2007) | ||
| S6 E12 - Day 6: 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (2007) | ||
| 2005 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) | Mischa Nasikoff / Misha 'Russian Mike' Noishikov |
| S12 E19 - Bale to the Chief (2005) | ||
| S12 E18 - Lenny Scissorhands (2005) | ||
| 2005 | Alias (TV Series) | Anatoly Grodsky / Alexander Khasinau |
| S4 E07 - Detente (2005) | ||
| S1 E19 - Snowman (2002) | ||
| 2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series) | Tolie |
| S4 E4 - The Weatherman (2004) | ||
| 2003 | The Division (TV Series) | Trey's Boss |
| S3 E20 - Thus with a Kiss I Die (2003) | ||
| 2003 | CSI: Miami (TV Series) | Vadim |
| S1 E16 - Evidence of Things Unseen (2003) | ||
| 2002 | The Agency (TV Series) | Konoplanyk / (segment "Deadline") |
| S2 E9 - Thanksgiving (2002) | ||
| S1 E10 - Deadline (2001) | ||
| 2002 | UC: Undercover (TV Series) | Avi Lermin |
| S1 E11 - Teddy C (2002) | ||
| 2000 | Arli$$ (TV Series) | |
| S5 E11 - You Can Pick Your Friends... (2000) | ||
| 1999 | V.I.P. (TV Series) | Badger |
| S1 E18 - K-Val (1999) | ||
| S1 E6 - Diamonds Are a Val's Best Friend (1998) | ||
| S1 E5 - Scents and Sensibility (1998) | ||
| 1999 | Chicago Hope (TV Series) | Janitor |
| S5 E14 - Playing Through (1999) | ||
| 1999 | Felicity (TV Series) | Yuri |
| S1 E12 - Friends (1999) | ||
| S1 E3 - Hot Objects (1998) | ||
| 1997 | NightMan (TV Series) | Yuri Iganoff |
| S1 E9 - Lady in Red (1997) | ||
| 1997 | Millennium (TV Series) | Yura Surova |
| S1 E21 - Maranatha (1997) | ||
| 1996 | Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) | Helmsman Lojur |
| S3 E2 - Flashback (1996) | ||
| 1995 | Cybill (TV Series) | Vasilli |
| S2 E9 - Local Hero (1995) | ||
| 1995 | Coach (TV Series) | Police Officer #2 |
| S7 E16 - The Kicker (1995) | ||
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV Series) | Mitan Chetek |
| S1 E4 - Cease Fire (1994) | ||
| 1992 | FBI: The Untold Stories (TV Series) | |
| S1 E18 - Operation Lemonade (1992) | ||
| 1990 | Family of Spies (TV Mini Series) | Jumpseat man |
| S1 E2 - Episode #1.2 (1990) | ||
| S1 E1 - Episode #1.1 (1990) | ||
| 1987 | Leg Work (TV Series) | Cabbie |
| S1 E8 - Mystery Woman (1987) | ||
| 1987 | The Equalizer (TV Series) | Sentry |
| S3 E7 - Mission: McCall: Part 2 (1987) |
Video Games Appearances
| Year | Title | Roles |
| 2009 | World in Conflict: Soviet Assault (Video Game) | (voice) |
| 2007 | Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow (Video Game) | Sergeyev (voice) |
| 2005 | Medal of Honor: European Assault (Video Game) | Additional Voices (voice) |
| 2004 | Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain (Video Game) | Dobransky / Thug B / Worker A (voice) |
| 2003 | James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Video Game) | Additional Voices (voice) |
| 2002 | Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix (Video Game) | Additional Voices (voice) |
Selected Filmography
- Payback (2021)
- Full-Dress (2019)
- Delirium (2013)
- A Beer Tale (2012)
- The Italian Job (2003)
- Air Force One (1997)
- The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Television appearances
- The Americans (2015-2018)
- Castle (2016)
- Chaos (2011)
- Look (2010)
- Crash (2008-2009)
- NYPD Blue (2005)
- Alias (2002, 2005)
- Curb You Enthusiasm (2004)
- CSI: Miami (2003)
- Felicity (1998-1999)
- Millennium (1997)
- Star Trek: Voyager (1996)
- Cybill (1995)
- Coach (1995)
As Producer
| Year | Title | Roles |
| 2004-2012 | Dog the Bounty Hunter (TV Series) | Co-Executive Producer - 194 episodes |
| 2003 | Thoughtcrimes (TV Movie) | Co-Executive Producer |
| 1993 | My Family Treasure | Associate Producer |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Boris Lee Krutonog". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472928/bio.
- ↑ "amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Boris-Lee-Krutonog/nm0472928/". https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Boris-Lee-Krutonog/nm0472928/.
- ↑ "howold.co/person/boris-lee-krutonog". https://www.howold.co/person/boris-lee-krutonog.
- ↑ "linkedin.com/in/boris-krutonog-5306a01b/ ". https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-krutonog-5306a01b/ .
- ↑ "nytimes.com/1988/03/07/theater/review-stage-family-skeletons-ghosts-and-guilt-in-stealing-heaven.html". https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/07/theater/review-stage-family-skeletons-ghosts-and-guilt-in-stealing-heaven.html.
- ↑ "memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Lojur". https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Lojur.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Boris Lee Krutonog Net Worth 2021: Wiki Bio, Age, Height, Married, Family" (in en-US). 2015-11-15. https://networthpost.org/net-worth/boris-lee-krutonog-net-worth-2/.
- ↑ Dog the Bounty Hunter (TV Series 2003–2012) - IMDb, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424627/fullcredits, retrieved 2022-03-27
- ↑ "washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/18/AR2006051801705.html". https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/18/AR2006051801705.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Boris Krutonog" (in en). https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Boris_Krutonog.
- ↑ "reporter.blogs.com/thresq/2010/01/dog-bounty-hunter-lawsuit-appeal.html". https://reporter.blogs.com/thresq/2010/01/dog-bounty-hunter-lawsuit-appeal.html.
- ↑ Cox, Dan (1998-11-19). "Seven Arts nabs ‘Alexander’". https://variety.com/1998/film/news/seven-arts-nabs-alexander-1117488663/.
- ↑ Cox, Dan; Cox, Dan (1999-01-26). "Russo group in space biz" (in en-US). https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/russo-group-in-space-biz-1117490627/.
- ↑ "Luster's Captors Sit in Mexican Prison | Fox News". https://www.foxnews.com/story/lusters-captors-sit-in-mexican-prison.amp.
- ↑ "variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/spinning-boris-1200538359/". https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/spinning-boris-1200538359/.
- ↑ "foxla.com/news/paramedics-being-told-when-and-when-not-to-transport-patients-officials-say-thats-nothing-new". https://www.foxla.com/news/paramedics-being-told-when-and-when-not-to-transport-patients-officials-say-thats-nothing-new.
- ↑ "About" (in en-US). https://www.amwestambulance.com/about/.
- ↑ "Sam Krutonog - Men's Water Polo" (in en). https://uclabruins.com/sports/mens-water-polo/roster/sam-krutonog/9904.
- ↑ "alekperov19vagif.narod.ru/ns/kinematograf_2.html". http://alekperov19vagif.narod.ru/ns/kinematograf_2.html.
