Ilia Volok was born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, USSR. He is an American actor. He is a Master of Sports in rowing and a participant in the 1982 World Championships in Italy (bronze medal). After serving in the Soviet Army, he graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School (1990, Alexander Kalyagin's workshop).

He trained at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in London. In 1992 he emigrated to the United States. He began acting in television series, then became one of Hollywood's most sought-after immigrant actors.