Whatever Happened To Mikhail Baryshnikov?
What To Know
- Mikhail Baryshnikov, renowned for his extraordinary ballet career and acclaimed acting roles, defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 and became a leading figure in American dance as both a performer and artistic director.
- Beyond ballet, he earned Oscar and Tony nominations, co-founded the influential White Oak Dance Project, and expanded opportunities for mature dancers in contemporary performance.
- In recent years, Baryshnikov has focused on running the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York and co-founded the True Russia Foundation to support victims of the war in Ukraine.
Mikhail Baryshnikov turns 78 on January 27, 2026, and for many of us, he will always be remembered as one of the best ballet stars of all time. Even if you were never a regular at the ballet, you probably know him from several of his prominent acting roles including the films The Turning Point and White Nights and a stint on Sex and the City. In honor of his birthday, let’s learn more about his long career and find out what he’s been up to in recent years.
How did Mikhail Baryshnikov begin his career?
Baryshnikov was born on January 27, 1948, in Riga, in what was then the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, and began his formal ballet training as a teenager. He rose quickly through the Soviet system and joined what was then known as the Kirov Ballet, where his speed and precision immediately set him apart.
Critics noticed early on, including The New York Times‘ Clive Barnes, who famously called him “the most perfect dancer I have ever seen,” a line that followed him throughout his career. Even then, though, Baryshnikov felt limited by the artistic restrictions of the Soviet world and wanted more creative freedom over his routines.
Everett Collection
That longing came to a head on June 29, 1974, when he defected in Toronto while on tour and requested political asylum in Canada. Almost immediately, he began dancing in North America, first briefly with the National Ballet of Canada and then with American Ballet Theatre.
In the late ’70s, Baryshnikov made another bold move by stepping away from a freelance superstar life to join New York City Ballet for a short but influential stretch. He wanted to immerse himself in the work of George Balanchine, tackling signature roles and proving that, even at the height of fame, he was still willing to be a student. Not long after, he returned to American Ballet Theatre in an even bigger role, becoming artistic director in 1980 and helping guide the company through much of the decade while still performing.
For many fans, Baryshnikov’s reach extended far beyond the ballet world. In 1977, he made a major impression in The Turning Point, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He followed that with the 1985 film White Nights and later found a new generation of admirers when he appeared in the final season of Sex and the City as Aleksandr Petrovsky. What often gets overlooked is how seriously Baryshnikov pursued acting on stage as well. In 1989, he took on the demanding role of Gregor Samsa in Metamorphosis on Broadway and earned a Tony nomination.
HBO/Everett Collection
In the ’90s, he co-founded the White Oak Dance Project with choreographer Mark Morris. The company was built around contemporary work and the belief that mature dancers still had something vital to say onstage, at a time when the dance world often sidelined performers as they aged. White Oak toured internationally until 2002 and helped expand the idea of what a dance career could look like beyond youth and peak athletic years.
Where is Mikhail Baryshnikov now?
His most recent role was in the 2015 TV show Doll & Em.
In 2022, he helped establish the True Russia Foundation alongside writer Boris Akunin and economist Sergey Guriyev, an initiative created to support victims of the war in Ukraine and to advocate for humanitarian aid.
Another lasting chapter began in 2005, when Baryshnikov opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. The space was designed as a creative home for artists across disciplines, offering residencies, rehearsal space, and performance opportunities. Today, he devotes much of his energy to running the center, and making sure that it will continue beyond his lifetime.
In more recent years, he has also used his visibility to take public stands on world events.
He lives in upstate New York, and has a dog named Zola.
Remind 
February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.
Buy This Issue