Yefremov Set for Theatrical Comeback in Mikhalkovs Pro-Kremlin Ensemble After Parole Release

Russian actor Mikhail Yefremov is set to join the theater company of pro-Kremlin director Nikita Mikhalkov following his recent release from prison on parole, Mikhalkov confirmed on Friday.

The 61-year-old Yefremov was found guilty in 2020 for causing the death of a delivery driver in a head-on crash while under the influence in central Moscow. He originally received an eight-year sentence in a medium-security facility, which was later reduced to seven and a half years upon appeal.

In March, a court granted him parole, and he was released in early April.

“Yes, he’s recuperating and we have a contract,” Mikhalkov stated to the state-run TASS news agency. “I genuinely hope he will join the theater group because he is still an exceptional actor despite everything.”

On Thursday, exiled media outlet TV Rain, citing a source close to Yefremov, reported that Mikhalkov had played a role in securing the actor’s parole with the stipulation that he find formal employment. As part of this arrangement, Yefremov is expected to appear in at least two performances.

Mikhalkov did not disclose the exact date of Yefremov’s return to the stage but mentioned that he is likely to star in a theatrical version of one of Mikhalkov’s films.

Yefremov, who has long been recognized for portraying charming yet often intoxicated characters, was a well-known presence in Russian cinema and theater for many years prior to his conviction.

Mikhalkov, at 79, is a vocal conservative and Orthodox Christian who consistently supports the Kremlin and critiques the West on his state television program. He received an Academy Award in 1995 for Best Foreign Language Film for “Burnt by the Sun.”