Chris Ashworth
Encyclopedia
Christopher Michael Ashworth (born March 13, 1975 in Farmville, Virginia
), better known as simply Chris Ashworth, is an American
actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sergei Malatov
on The Wire
. He commonly plays characters from Eastern Europe
due to his ability to mimic accents and dialects.
Ashworth began training in martial arts
, particularly Muay Thai
and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
, in 1993. He also earned two Associates' degrees, Criminal Justice & General Studies, and a Bachelor's degree
in Criminal Justice
. He made his acting debut in 2000, in the low-budget sci-fi film Aquarius. He followed this up with a number of small roles in higher budget films such as Cecil B. DeMented
, The Replacements
and The Watcher
before eventually landing a regular role on The Wire
s second season
in 2003. He has since appeared in numerous other films and television series including Without a Trace
, The Lost Room
and Terminator Salvation
.
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
), better known as simply Chris Ashworth, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sergei Malatov
Sergei Malatov
Sergei "Serge" Malatov is a fictional character on the HBO drama series The Wire, played by Chris Ashworth. He acts as a driver and muscle for The Greek. He is Ukrainian, although Americans often assume he is Russian. He hates this and their subsequent tendency to nickname him "Boris"...
on The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. He commonly plays characters from Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
due to his ability to mimic accents and dialects.
Ashworth began training in martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, particularly Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
, in 1993. He also earned two Associates' degrees, Criminal Justice & General Studies, and a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
. He made his acting debut in 2000, in the low-budget sci-fi film Aquarius. He followed this up with a number of small roles in higher budget films such as Cecil B. DeMented
Cecil B. Demented
Cecil B. Demented is a 2000 black comedy film written and directed by John Waters. The film stars Melanie Griffith as a snobby A-list Hollywood actress who is kidnapped by a band of terrorist filmmakers who force her to star in their underground film...
, The Replacements
The Replacements (film)
The Replacements is a 2000 American film directed by Howard Deutch. It stars Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton and Orlando Jones.-Plot:...
and The Watcher
The Watcher (film)
The Watcher is a 2000 American thriller directed by Joe Charbanic and starring James Spader, Keanu Reeves and Marisa Tomei. Set in Chicago, the film is about a retired FBI agent who is stalked and taunted by a serial killer.-Plot:...
before eventually landing a regular role on The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
s second season
The Wire (season 2)
The second season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 1, 2003, concluded on August 24, 2003, and contained 12 episodes...
in 2003. He has since appeared in numerous other films and television series including Without a Trace
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
, The Lost Room
The Lost Room
The Lost Room is a science fiction television miniseries that aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States. The series revolves around the titular room and some of the everyday items from that room which possess unusual powers. The show's protagonist, Joe Miller, is searching for these objects...
and Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting...
.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Aquarius | Gan/Marcus Pavlof | |
| 2000 | Cecil B. DeMented Cecil B. Demented Cecil B. Demented is a 2000 black comedy film written and directed by John Waters. The film stars Melanie Griffith as a snobby A-list Hollywood actress who is kidnapped by a band of terrorist filmmakers who force her to star in their underground film... |
News Camera man | Uncredited |
| 2000 | The Replacements The Replacements (film) The Replacements is a 2000 American film directed by Howard Deutch. It stars Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton and Orlando Jones.-Plot:... |
Sentinels Player #38 | Uncredited |
| 2000 | The Watcher The Watcher (film) The Watcher is a 2000 American thriller directed by Joe Charbanic and starring James Spader, Keanu Reeves and Marisa Tomei. Set in Chicago, the film is about a retired FBI agent who is stalked and taunted by a serial killer.-Plot:... |
S.W.A.T. Team Leader | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Mafioso: The Father, the Son | Surfer Boy | |
| 2004 | Hitch | Derek | |
| 2005 | The Refuge | Michael | |
| 2008 | Love Lies Bleeding | Eddie | |
| 2008 | Sex and Lies in Sin City: The Ted Binion Scandal | Frank Lipjanic | TV film |
| 2009 | Terminator Salvation Terminator Salvation Terminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting... |
Richter | |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Critical Rescue | Dennis Clapp | 1 episode |
| 2003–2008 | The Wire The WIRE the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma... |
Sergei Malatov Sergei Malatov Sergei "Serge" Malatov is a fictional character on the HBO drama series The Wire, played by Chris Ashworth. He acts as a driver and muscle for The Greek. He is Ukrainian, although Americans often assume he is Russian. He hates this and their subsequent tendency to nickname him "Boris"... |
11 episodes |
| 2005 | America's Most Wanted America's Most Wanted America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode... |
Phillip Saul | 1 episode |
| 2006 | The Lost Room The Lost Room The Lost Room is a science fiction television miniseries that aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States. The series revolves around the titular room and some of the everyday items from that room which possess unusual powers. The show's protagonist, Joe Miller, is searching for these objects... |
Kreutzfeld Guard #2 | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Lt. Rick Cheever | 1 episode |