He played a Russian diplomat in direct-to-video movie Driven to Kill, and now Steven Seagal's become a Russian in real life.
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree giving the action movie star Russian citizenship.
The longtime friends share an interest in martial arts - Mr Putin is a judo black belt, while Seagal practises aikido.
"I congratulate my friend Steve on the fact that now he has become our compatriot!" Russia's deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeted.
The Russian government said Seagal's desire for Russian citizenship has been "persistent for a long time".
"He is actually renowned for his quite warm feelings toward our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian government-controlled news outlets Sputnik and RT.
"He never made a secret out of it... He is a rather well-known actor, which became the reason for granting him Russian Federation citizenship."
Seagal's grandfather was a Russian Jew who moved to the US.
The Marked for Death star visited Russia in September to attend a film festival, and spoke then of his plans to become a Russian citizen so he could spend more time with friends in the sprawling Eurasian country.
In 2013, Seagal "opened some doors" for counter-terrorism officials in the US looking into Russia, reports NPR, and Mr Putin even considered making the Under Siege star an honorary consul.
Seagal approved of Russia's controversial invasion of Ukraine-held Crimea in 2014.
Newshub.