Honored Artist of Russia Mikhail Yefremov. Biography

Mikhail Efremov is one of the most recognizable Russian actors of theater and cinema, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, winner of the Nika and TEFI awards. His career began at the age of 13, and he has more than 170 roles under his belt. In 2020, he was found guilty of a fatal road accident in the center of Moscow, but the actor was released in 2025 on parole. About Yefremov's early years, career and high—profile criminal case - in the material of Izvestia.

Early years and education

Mikhail Olegovich Efremov was born on November 10, 1963 in Moscow into a famous theatrical family. His father is Oleg Yefremov, one of the founders and chief director of the Sovremennik Theater and People's Artist of the USSR, his mother is Alla Pokrovskaya, People's Artist of the RSFSR and Sovremennik actress. His grandfather is the opera director Boris Pokrovsky.

At the age of 13, Yefremov first appeared on the stage of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater (Moscow Art Theater) in the play "Leaving, look Back!" and starred in the TV movie "Days of Surgeon Mishkin." In 1981, he entered the Moscow Art Theater Studio School, but after the first year he was drafted into the army. He graduated from the university in 1987.

Career in theater and cinema

In 1987, Yefremov founded the Sovremennik-2 theater studio, but the troupe quickly disbanded. Since 1991, he has worked at the Moscow Art Theater, where he played the roles of Chatsky in "Woe from Wit" and Treplev in "The Seagull". He left the theater in 1999. He also performed in the School of Modern Play and Sovremennik.

Efremov gained real fame after starring in the film "When I Become a Giant" (1979). In total, his filmography includes more than 170 works. Among the key films: "The Border. Taiga novel", "9th company", "12", "Election Day", "Generation P", "Spiritless", "Good Boy", "Irony of Fate. Continuation", "Antikiller".

Titles and awards

In 1995, Efremov was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. In 2002, he received the Nika Award for Best Supporting Actor in the television series "Frontier. Taiga Romance", in 2016 — the second "Nickname" for the best supporting actor in the film "About Love", in 2017 — the TEFI award in the nomination "Best Actor in a television movie / series" for his role in the sitcom "Drunk Firm".

Personal life

Mikhail Efremov was married five times and is the father of six children. The first marriage was reportedly a sham. He married philologist Asa Vorobyova for the second time, and Nikita Efremov's son, who became an actor, was born in this marriage. His third wife was People's Artist of Russia Evgenia Dobrovolskaya (married from 1990 to 1997), from whom his son Nikolai was born.

Efremov's fourth wife was actress Ksenia Kachalina (daughter Anna-Maria) — in December 2025, it became known about her death. His fifth wife was sound engineer Sofya Kruglikova (married since 2002), with whom the actor has three children — daughters Vera and Nadezhda and son Boris.

Fatal accident and criminal case

In June 2020, Mikhail Yefremov, while under the influence of alcohol, caused a fatal accident on Smolenskaya Square in Moscow. His SUV flew into oncoming traffic and collided with a Lada van. The driver of the van, Sergei Zakharov, died. Alcohol was found in the actor's blood.

Later, on September 8, 2020, the Presnensky Court of Moscow found Yefremov guilty under Article 264 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Traffic violations while intoxicated, resulting in death of a person") and sentenced him to 8 years in a general regime penal colony with compensation of 800 thousand rubles. However, on October 22, the Moscow City Court reduced the sentence to 7.5 years. Since November 2020, he has been serving time in colony No. 4 in Alekseevka, Belgorod region.

Release and return to work

In March 2025, the Alekseevsky District Court granted Yefremov's request for parole, and on April 9, 2025, the actor was released. After his release, he began to restore his health and returned to work in theater and cinema in the winter of 2026.

So, on February 13, Yefremov took to the stage for the first time after his release from prison. The actor played in the pre-premiere screening of the play "Without Witnesses" on the stage of the Workshop 12 theater. The first viewers of the production "for moms and dads" were relatives and friends of the artists, as well as representatives of the press.

Later, on July 21, during the pitching of the Cinema Foundation in the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the film "Father. Another father," in which Yefremov will play the main role. The director will be Alexander Barshak, and the cast also includes Danila Kozlovsky, Adam Kumaev, Anya Chipovskaya, Ivan Zamotaev, Pavel Derevyanko and Irina Bezrukova.

On March 26, director Nikita Mikhalkov expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Council for Culture for Yefremov's return to creative activity after his release from prison. The director also appealed to the Russian leader with an invitation to visit the new production, in which Efremov is involved.