Alexander Borisovich Godunov (Russian: Александр Борисович Годунов; November 28, 1949 – May 1995)[4] was a Russian-American ballet dancer and film actor.

On August 21, 1979, while on a tour with the Bolshoi Ballet in New York City, Godunov contacted authorities and asked for political asylum.

After discovering his absence, the KGB responded by putting his wife, Lyudmila Vlasova, a soloist with the company, on a plane to Moscow, but the flight was stopped before takeoff.

[5] Godunov joined American Ballet Theatre and danced as a principal dancer until 1982, when he had a falling-out with Mikhail Baryshnikov, the director of the company.

A press release for American Ballet Theatre stated a change in the troupe's repertoire did not provide Godunov with sufficient roles.

[1] His acting roles included an Amish farmer in Witness (1985), a comically narcissistic symphony conductor in The Money Pit (1986) and one of the thieves in Die Hard (1988).

[12] In 1981, Godunov began dating actress Jacqueline Bisset after meeting her at a party in New York City.

[1] According to author Herbie J Pilato, Godunov had an affair with actress Elizabeth Montgomery while she was in a relationship with (but not yet married to) Robert Foxworth.