- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHenry Gerguson
- Mike Romanoff, the former Harry F. Gerguson, was a successful "professional impostor." He accumulated an enormous fount of knowledge in his numerous travels and occupations around the world (and he attended, however briefly, several leading universities). When Hollywood filmmakers needed a technical adviser for a movie set in Europe, Romanoff claimed to be an expert and drew a comfortable salary. The genial Romanoff was a popular figure among the movie colony, and he opened a restaurant that was frequented by many film stars. Romanoff made few screen appearances, but he can be seen in all his fraudulent glory in Sing While You're Able (1937). David Niven was a close friend, and in his book "Bring On the Empty Horses" he devotes a chapter to the colorful Romanoff.
- IMDb mini biography by: Scott MacGillivray
- SpouseGloria Lister(1948 - 1971)
- Claimed to have been born Prince Michael Dimitri Alexandrovich Obolensky-Romanoff, nephew of Tsar Nicholas II. Everyone in Hollywood knew he wasn't, but, in a town full of pretenders, it hardly mattered, and "Prince Michael" enjoyed great success as a restaurateur.
- Was a pallbearer at Errol Flynn's funeral along with Raoul Walsh, Mickey Rooney, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Jack Oakie, and Otto Reichow October 19, 1959 at the Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA.
- From 1941 to 1962, Mike Romanoff's Beverly Hills restaurant Romanoff's was considered the top spot for international cuisine in Hollywood, and was frequented by many movie stars. Its menu introduced such delicacies as foie gras, frog's legs and turtle soup to the region.
- Changed his name to Harry F. Gerguson some time after 1900.
- Immigrated to New York City at age 10
- No one has ever discovered the truth about me -- not even myself.
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