Philip Jennings

Philip Jennings (real name Mikhail (called Mischa); ) is a fictional character in the American television drama series The Americans on FX, and the male lead. He was created by series creator Joe Weisberg and is portrayed by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys. Philip is a KGB agent and, along with Elizabeth (Keri Russell), poses as an American citizen, working as a travel agent in Washington, D.C. Character history Early history Philip was born as Mikhail in Tobolsk. His father died when he was six years old; his mother's history is unknown. In the first episode of season 4, Philip describes being attacked by gangs at a young age while collecting milk across the city. One day he fought back, and beat one of the bullies to death. As a teenager, Philip dated a young Russian woman named Irina, who shared his dream of joining the KGB. When Philip is accepted into the Illegals Program (where KGB agents live permanently undercover in the US, posing as American citizens), Irina breaks up with him and tells him that she's met someone else. Later, Irina also joins the KGB as an undercover agent in Europe. Philip trains for several years before meeting "Elizabeth Jennings," another member of the Illegals Program, who is assigned to be his wife in America. They move to Virginia in 1965 and have their first child, Paige, in 1967. Season one