Spartak's family has a prestigious history. His great, great grandfather was the personal bodyguard to Catherine the Great and his father was a champion Soviet boxer in the 200lb and over division. This professional athlete held the title of Moscow Champion and third in the Soviet Union in professional arm wrestling.

Despite making a living by brawn, Spartak was no slouch in the brains department, having studied at the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture and Institute of Economics.

Outside of the Gladiators arena, Spartak starred in more than twenty television and feature films in Russia and Hollywood.

On the 10th December 2015, Spartak sadly passed away suddenly aged only 53 years old, the cause of death has never been reported.