Russian-born Illya Nickovitch Kuryakin is the number two of Section II of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.He is one of U.N.C.L.E.'s best agents, cool under fire, a crack shot and, when necessary, adept at disguises. He also possesses a dry sense of humor, not always evident to those around him. On one occasion, his disguise of a dark wig, glasses and fake mustache caused him to resemble Trotsky (The Project Strigas Affair), presumably a reference to his Soviet roots that, remarkably, no one around him seemed to pick up on, including his friend and fellow agent, Napoleon Solo.Kuryakin was created by Sam Rolfe, who wrote the pilot for The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and was producer for the show's first season. However, writer Alan Caillou did much to flesh out the character. Two episodes penned by Caillou, The Quadripartite Affair and The Giuoco Piano Affair, did much to establish the character. Caillou also wrote The Bow-Wow Affair, a first-season story that featured Kuryakin primarily. That's because Napoleon Solo was recovering from an injury (in reality star Robert Vaughn was getting a break during the show's shooting schedule).Little is known of Kuryakin's background. He often wears a wedding ring, yet he has no known spouse. Kuryakin spent at least some of his formative years in Kiev (The Foxes and the Hounds Affair). The agent also developed extensive knowledge of gypsies and their ways (The Terbuf Affair, The Bow-Wow Affair). How, where and when he gained this knowledge is not known.Kuryakin was an officer in the Soviet military, though again the specifics aren't known. He is seen, in one episode (The Neptune Affair) wearing a Soviet military uniform of some sort while inspecting damage caused by a spore contained in a capsule launched from the U.S.Kuryakin was trained by U.N.C.L.E.'s Jules Cutter (The Survival School Affair). Cutter dislikes Kuryakin for reasons not entirely explained.The Russian normally is paired with Napoleon Solo, yet is more than capable operating on his own (The Bow-Wow Affair) or with other agents (first part of The Foxes and Hounds Affair, The Galtea Affair, The Survival School Affair).While friends with Solo, Kuryakin at times voices disapproval of Solo's womanizing ways. Kuryakin himself is attractive to women, some of whom comment about his blue eyes. (The Return of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) He enjoyed a relationship with Marion Raven, an innocent involved in The Quadripartite Affair/The Giuoco Piano Affair but waited until the end of the assignment before socializing with her.Kuryakin, at times, can be analytical. On at least one occasion (The Terbuf Affair) this was useful because Solo was dealing with emotions stemming from a previous affair. The Russian also occasionally expresses displeasure with American decadence. While approaching a Long Island mansion during The Love Affair, Kuryakin comments, Suddenly, I feel very Russian. At the end of the series, Kuryakin and Solo destroyed a base established by the seven wonders (The Seven Wonders of the World Part II) after nearly perishing by a firing squad.In a 1976 script by Sam Rolfe, The Malthusian Affair, Kuryakin is depicted as still holding his old U.N.C.L.E. post and working with Solo. The project never went before the cameras.In the early 1980s, Kuryakin was depicted as apparently becoming a permanent U.S. resident (this is not enitrely clear) and a fashion designer. He had left U.N.C.L.E. under bad terms. The cause of that was an operative named Janus, who was dispatched by Kuryakin near the end of the 1983 made-for-television movie. At the end of the film, Kuryakin is depicted as perhaps ready for a more permanent return to the organization.In September 2013, a movie version of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. began filming. The film will depict Solo and Kuryakin's first mission. Kuryakin is described as being a KGB agent. Show less «