Described as "a Pre-Raphaelite angel posing as a punk-rock idol", this tall (6'3"), blond star of the Bolshoi Ballet staged a dramatic, front-page defection from the Soviet Union in 1979. A Russian dance star since 1971, Godunov, a colleague of Mikhail Baryshnikov, became a principal with the American Ballet Theatre and in 1982, after he left under a cloud of bad feelings, danced as guest artist with various troupes. Spotted by director Peter Weir on a 1983 PBS special, "Godunov: The World to Dance In", he made his US acting debut as a somber Amish farmer in the thriller, "Witness" (1985). Unlike Baryshnikov, Godunov chose not to appear in dance films. Perhaps due to this--or to the alcoholism which eventually killed him--Godunov's film career fizzled. His lion's mane of long blond hair and his intimidating presence did help him get roles as an arrogant symphony conductor in "The Money Pit" (1986), a villain in "Die Hard" (1988) and an incestous madman in "Waxwork II" (1991). Godunov's final role was in the comedy "North" (1994). As an in-joke, he portrayed an Amish father, married to "Witness" co-star Kelly McGillis.
Profession(s):
Actor, dancer, ballet teacher
Sometimes Credited As:
Family
brother:Oleg Godunov (lives in Riga, Latvia)
father:Boris Ilaryon Godunov
mother:Lydia Nicolaivna Godunov (lives in Riga, Latvia)
wife:Ludmilla Vlasova (Bolshoi ballet dancer who returned to Russia without Godunov when he defected in 1979; divorced in 1982)
Companion(s)
Jacqueline Bisset
, Companion
, ```..together 1981-88
Education
Riga Choreography School Riga, Latvia
Stella Adler Conservatory New York, New York
Riga Music School Riga, Latvia 1958
International Ballet Competition, First Prize Gold Medal Award 1973
1994 Final feature, cast as an Amish dad in Rob Reiner's "North"
1991 Attended and taught at Lichine Ballet Academy in Beverly Hills
1987 Became a US citizen
1985 US feature debut, played an Amish farmer in "Witness"
1984 Gave final dance performance
1983 US TV debut on PBS special, "Godunov: The World to Dance In"
1979 Defected while the Bolshoi was on tour in New York
1975 Made film debut, played Vronski in the ballet version of "Anna Karenina"
1971 Made debut at Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow, in "Swan Lake"
1958 - 1966 Danced with the Moiseyev Ballet Company
Raised in Latvia
Mother took him to Bolshoi School at age nine; was selected with 12 others out of 250 applicants
Moved to Moscow and became principal dancer with the Bolshoi Dance Company
Joined the American Ballet Theatre, New York; three year contract was not renewed by ABT artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov (official company statement said his repertory was too limited and the co
Performed as guest artist with several dance companies; formed his own temporary dance troupes for tours including "Godunov and Stars"
