Michael Sinelnikoff

Biography: Mister Sinelnikoff's parents were both Russian, but did not meet until they were both in England. His father's family was rather poor, and came from St Petersburg, while his mother's family was from Moscow and were wealthy. When Mr. Sinelnikoff's father invented the mortar-firing rifle, combined with the connections from his mother's side, the family fortune was made. Mr. Sinelnikoff has no siblings, and remembers life in post-WWI and pre-WWII London as being much fun and good times many. He played in Kensington Gardens, which figures predominantly in the classic novel Peter Pan, and life was wonderful, until 1939, and the intrusion of Hitler and World War II.
Mister Sinelnikoff went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for one year, then to the Italia Conti School for two.
He also produced and directed 70 television dramas for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) during a ten year period. Sinelnikoff was the first director of the now world-famous Cirque duMister Sinelnikoff's parents were both Russian, but did not meet until they were both in England. His father's family was rather poor, and came from St Petersburg, while his mother's family was from Moscow and were wealthy. When Mr. Sinelnikoff's father invented the mortar-firing rifle, combined with the connections from his mother's side, the family fortune was made. Mr. Sinelnikoff has no siblings, and remembers life in post-WWI and pre-WWII London as being much fun and good times many. He played in Kensington Gardens, which figures predominantly in the classic novel Peter Pan, and life was wonderful, until 1939, and the intrusion of Hitler and World War II.
Mister Sinelnikoff went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for one year, then to the Italia Conti School for two.
He also produced and directed 70 television dramas for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) during a ten year period.
Sinelnikoff was the first director of the now world-famous Cirque du Soleil, it's first year in 1984. His experience in production and low-budget theatre was invaluable and helped formed the foundation for it's huge success. It was while working with the Cirque du Soleil that he and Luc Campeau, who eventually set him on the path to The Lost World, first worked together.
The first time Sinelnikoff portrayed Summerlee, in the 1988 movie, the character was basically the same sweet, dignified gentleman we know and love from the Telescene version. The earlier Summerlee was actually a paleontologist, and not a botanist. When Sinelnikoff auditioned for the Telescene pilot to be filmed in Australia, he was asked by the person running the audition to be "a bit of a bad guy." One always does what one is asked at auditions, so he acquiesced, but requested a separate "take" to play Summerlee a little nicer.
A special thank you to Mister Sinelnikoff for allowing me to use this information from his site!… Expand