He graduated from the Kazakh State Pedagogical Institute, and his career in cinema began by chance — a film crew for "Troubled Morning" arrived in his native village. After being invited to the filming and making a successful debut, Ikhtymbaev was hired as a full-time actor at the "Kazakhfilm" studio. Ikhtymbaev's roles are marked by a variety of characters — from taciturn, harsh, and even cruel ("Wolf among People") to tender yet decisive ("Gift to Stalin"). His small but important role as Zoar in "The Watchers" reveals a hidden Eastern wisdom and simplicity of character. Among his recent works is a collaboration with French actor Gérard Depardieu in the film "Late Love". In addition to his work in cinema, Ikhtymbaev also participates in the dubbing of animated films ("Kadyr's Happiness," 2000).