Vladimir Ilyin was born in Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Yekaterinburg, Russia).

In 1969 he graduated from the Sverdlovsk Theatre School (course F. Grigoryan).

His wife Zoe Ilyina (née Pylnova).

His nephew is Aleksandr Ilyin, Jr., also an actor.

Vladimir Ilyin has starred in over 111 films