Yuri Khlystov
Yuri Khlystov is a Professional Actor, Model, Producer, & Casting Director. Known for Chinese Zodiac (2012), Unstoppable (2018), and Operation Red Sea (2018), he has worked with top Chinese/Hong Kong actors and global movie stars, including Andy Lao, Gong Li, Bo Huang, Xiaoming Huang, Ma Dong-seok, Song Ji-Hyo, Yi Zhang, Lee Jung-jae, and Liam Neeson. In the last decade, Yuri has acted in 20+ movies and worked with China's leading directors and producers like Chen Kaige, Li Jun, Zhang Yimou, and Jackie Chan.
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Yuri moved to Finland at age 18 to study Film and Television and graduated from the University of Helsinki in 2009. He had always been fascinated by the Chinese film industry and Kung-fu and spent his childhood watching Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Andy Lao.
With the hopes of experiencing the China film industry and culture first-hand, Yuri traveled to Beijing, China, in 2008, following Beijing Olympics, and moved permanently a year later. In 2010, he entered the Chinese Showbiz industry to realize his lifelong dream and launched his entertainment career. Since then, Yuri has appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, documentaries, commercials, 3D/online games, and animated films and has also been featured on CCTV News and China Radio International (CRI). Fluent in English, Russian, and Chinese (Mandarin), Yuri is a highly versatile actor skilled in Martial Arts and Chinese Kung-Fu. He is also trained in Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing and is an adept swimmer, racer, shooter, and rock climber. Yuri also knows how to ski/snowboard and plays and avidly follows sports like Ping Pong, Karts Racing, Football, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, and Badminton. Additionally, he can also dance and knows Yoga.
Following his idols, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Andy Lao, Yuri remains open to different roles and has played diverse characters. He acted as a Russian Mercenary in Chinese Zodiac (2012), British Council Employee in Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads (2014), Military Man in Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite (2016), Wedding Photographer in Bad Daughter (2018), Serviceman in Operation Red Sea (2018), Santa Clause in Begin, Again (2019), Casino Staff Member in Unstoppable (2019), Army Officer in Ocean Rescue (2020), Referee in Leap (2020), Booker's Assistant in Kun Lun Gui (2020), and US Marine Corp Soldier in The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021).
In addition, Yuri has acted in multiple TV series, including Ivy Monsters and The Silicon Wave, and TV commercials for CICC, Foton Motor Corp, Mengniu Dairy, Steakhouse, Dettol, & Visa, portraying a range of characters like engineer, creative designer, and assistant. He has also been featured as an animated character and voiceover artist in 3D/Online games like Cash Frenzy Casino and D-War.
During his career, Yuri has acted in numerous action-thriller and dramas. He is a fitness enthusiast who follows a vigorous lifestyle and works out regularly. And this helped him land roles as a soldier, spy, military man, and mercenary in numerous movies and TV series.
An actor, entertainer, and artist, Yuri is passionate about delivering memorable experiences and is always ready for new challenges. Adamant to grow as an artist and performer, he never limits himself to a genre or style and loves to live beyond his comfort zone. Yuri's latest work includes a stint as a US Army Soldier in the movie The Great War (2023), directed by Kaige Chen, a surgeon in a popular Chinese drama Ta De Sheng Cun Zhi Dao (2023) and is acting alongside Andy Lau, Xuan Huang, and Jason Gu in Mosike xingdong (2023).