Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov, a renowned Russian-born American ballet dancer, actor, and choreographer, was born on Sakhalin Island, the far eastern end of the former Soviet Union. His mother, driven by a desire to steer him away from a life of delinquency, enrolled him in the Riga State Ballet School at the tender age of nine. It was here that he developed a passion for dance, alongside his future friend and classmate, Mikhail Baryshnikov.
As he honed his craft, he graduated from the school and embarked on a touring career with the Moscow Classical Ballet. His exceptional talent soon caught the attention of the Bolshoi Ballet, and he joined the esteemed company in 1971. His impressive performances in lead roles such as "Swan Lake" and "Giselle" earned him rave reviews, and he went on to win a gold medal at the Moscow International Competition in 1973.
The same year, he received widespread acclaim during the Bolshoi's tour of the United States, only to be marked as a potential defector and subsequently banned from touring for five years. In August 1979, he finally defected, and his wife, a ballerina, followed suit a few days later. He joined the American Ballet Theater, where he danced until 1982, when a disagreement with the company's director, Mikhail Baryshnikov, led to his departure.
By this time, he had become a frequent companion of actress Jacqueline Bisset. His film career began with a critically acclaimed performance as Amish farmer Daniel in "Witness" (1985),with The New York Times praising him as the film's "most riveting presence." However, his role as Karl in "Die Hard" (1988) received less favorable reviews, with the same critic describing it as a "sight gag" in his terrorist costume.
Upon becoming a US citizen in 1987, he expressed his intention to celebrate by indulging in a hamburger stuffed with caviar. Tragically, he was found dead in his West Hollywood home a few weeks later, the cause of death attributed to natural causes by his physician.
