Steven Seagal Said He Was 'Ready To Die for Russia' in Letter to Putin

Steven Seagal has reportedly said that he once wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing his willingness to fight and die for him.

The actor, who is known for a string of Hollywood movies in the 80s and 90s like Under Siege, Hard To Kill and The Glimmer Man, was granted Russian citizenship in 2016 and has been vocal in his support of Putin. In 2018, the Russian leader appointed Seagal as a "special representative" on U.S-Russian humanitarian ties.

Russian state media Ria Novosti reported that the actor has said that he wrote a letter to Putin, expressing his readiness to die for the president and for Russia. Newsweek has emailed a representative for Seagal for comment.

Seagal apparently opened up in his new documentary In The Name Of Justice, saying: "I was in the Middle East, teaching martial arts to some people. And I heard that a special operation had begun. The next day I wrote a letter and was convinced that it would most likely reach the president."

The star, 72, is said to have made his support for Putin clear in the letter.

Quoting what he had written, Seagal reportedly said: "I will be on the side of my president, I will fight on the side of my president and, if necessary, I will die with my president."

"As for Vladimir Putin, I know what he really stood for and what he tried to do," he said.

Earlier this year, Seagal was present when Putin was sworn in for a fifth term. He told reporters at the event that he was "looking forward" to the president's next term as leader. "He's the greatest world leader. He's the greatest," he said.

One clip that appeared online showed the actor being interviewed and the reporter asking what he thought the future would be like and he replied: "With President Putin, it will be the best."

Seagal, who is also a martial artist and musician, got his big break in Hollywood in 1987 in the movie Above The Law. He went on to make several hit films and also worked behind the scenes as a producer on several projects. He directed the 1994 action adventure film On Deadly Ground.

He racked up plenty of TV appearances and had his own reality show called Steven Seagal: Lawman. In 1991, the star was the guest host on the sketch show Saturday Night Live.

Steven Seagal's representative has previously dismissed rumors about the actor joining Putin's war, stating there was "zero truth" in the reports.

He also denied social media claims that Seagal was set to be appointed Russia's new defense minister in place of Sergei Shoigu.

"This is false and no he has not been offered this role or expected to be. He also hopes this war to be ended as soon as possible so we can all live in peace," his representative told Newsweek via email in June 2023.