Michael studied under Stanislavski before incorporating his father's mystical philosophies with those of Rudolf Steiner to pioneer "Psycho-Physical" acting techniques.

Anton Chekhov often referred to Alexander as more intelligent - but unable to produce the work to prove it due to his alcoholism.

He later graduated from the Natural Sciences Department of the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of Moscow State University.

In his student years his works were published in comic magazines such as The Spectator and The Alarm Clock, largely contributing to the familiarization of his younger brother Anton with the world of metropolitan journalism.

He was dismissed from his post in Taganrog for a sensational story about the abuses of local customs officials, which he published in the Odessa newspaper.