Not only is Mikhail Baryshnikov one of the leading dancers of the 20th century, he is also a celebrated actor! Born in Riga, Latvia, on January 27, 1948, Mikhail began dazzling audiences with his ballet artistry throughout his teens. Despite his fame in Soviet Russia, Mikhail decided to defect to Canada in 1974 to explore other dance companies, eventually landing in the United States with the American Ballet Company, where he became the artistic director in 1980. In the decades following, he became a leader in organizing dance troupes and companies throughout the world. In 2000, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
After Mikhail began to direct dance more than perform it, he turned his eye toward Tinseltown and began his acting career. His first foray into Hollywood was quite the success! Playing a womanizing ballet dancer in 1977’s ‘The Turning Point’, Mikhail earned himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Then, in the last season of HBO’s ‘Sex and the City’, he found himself a new legion of fans as Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, who romances Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw and flies her off to Paris.
As for his personal life, Mikhail dated Oscar winner Jessica Lange for four years before welcoming their daughter Aleksandra (Shura). He would go on to marry former ballerina Lisa Rinehart in 2006. Over their decades-long relationship, they would welcome son Peter and daughters Anna and Sofia.
Mikhail Baryshnikov and wife Lisa Rinehart pictured here at
New York City Ballet’s Third Annual Fall Fashion Gala in 2014.
Click through to see more pics of Mikhail throughout the years.
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