Mikhail Nikolaevitch Baryshnikov (Russian: Михаил Николаевич Барышников), (January 28, 1948) is a russian ballet dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century.

After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974 and went on to become a principal dancer and artistic director with the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet in New York City. He has spearheaded many of his own artistic projects and has been associated in particular with promoting modern dance, premiering dozens of new works, including many of his own. His success as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema and television has helped him become probably the most widely recognized contemporary dancer.

Born in Riga, Baryshnikov began his ballet studies there in 1960. In 1964, he entered the Vaganova School, in Leningrad, soon winning the top prize in the junior division of the International Varna Competition. He joined the Kirov Ballet and made his debut at the Mariinsky Theater in 1967, dancing the “Peasant” pas de deux in Giselle. Recognizing Baryshnikov's talent, in particular the strength of his stage presence and purity of his classical technique, several russian choreographers including Oleg Vinogradov, Konstantin Sergeyev, Igor Tchernichov, and Leonid Jakobson created ballets for him. Jakobson's 1969 virtuosic Vestris along with an intensely emotional Albrecht in Giselle, became his signature roles. He was called by critic Clive Barnes "the most perfect dancer I have ever seen".

While on a tour in Canada with the Kirov Ballet in 1974, Baryshnikov defected, requesting political asylum in Toronto. He later stated that Christina Berlin, an American friend of his, helped engineer his defection during his 1970 tour of London. His first performance after coming out of temporary seclusion in Canada was with the National Ballet of Canada in a televised version of La Sylphide. He then went on to the United States.

From 1974 to 1979, he was principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), where he partnered with Gelsey Kirkland. He also worked with the New York City Ballet, with George Balanchine. He also toured with ballet and modern dance companies around the world for fifteen months. Several roles were created for him, including roles Opus 19: The Dreamer (1979), by Jerome Robbins, Rhapsody (1980), by Frederick Ashton, and Other Dances (with Natalia Makarova) by Jerome Robbins. He returned to ABT in 1980 as dancer and artistic director, a position he held for a decade. On July 3, 1986, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. From 1990 to 2002, Baryshnikov was artistic director of the White Oak Dance Project, a touring company he co-founded with Mark Morris. In 2004 he launched the Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York.

Baryshnikov has a daughter, Aleksandra Baryshnikova (born 1981), from a relationship with actress Jessica Lange. When Baryshnikov and Lange met, he was able to speak very little English, and they had to communicate by using French instead. Baryshnikov is currently in a long term relationship with former ballerina Lisa Rinehart, and they have three children: Sofia, Anna, and Peter. In an interview with Larry King, Baryshnikov said that he didn't believe in marriage because the commitment that people make to each other doesn't have anything to do with a legal marriage. He stated that he wasn't religious, so standing in front of an altar would not mean anything to him.