Alec Utgoff played the role of Alexei in Stranger Things.
Stranger Things is a super hit American TV series created by Duffer Brothers for Netflix. It first aired in 2016 and currently has 4 seasons with the 5th and final season in production. The show is set in the 1980s in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. The story revolves around a group of young friends- Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Max Mayfield, and Eleven- and their families who come across frightening supernatural forces and government conspiracies. The cast of the show includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, etc.
Stranger Things has garnered high viewership numbers over the last four seasons, making it one of the most-watched series on Netflix. The show has received critical acclaim and has won many awards like Critics' Choice Television Awards, Kids' Choice Awards, MTV Movie & TV Awards, etc, and has received several nominations from awards like Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, four Grammy Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, etc.
Alexei was introduced in season 3 of Stranger Things. He plays a minor but memorable role which was loved by the fans. He played the role of a Russian scientist with an appealing and eccentric personality. His interactions with Chief Hopper, Joyce, and Murray gave insight into the conspiracies taking place in the town.
Who acted as Alexei in Stranger Things?
Alec Utgoff played the role of Alexei in Stranger Things. He is a British actor born on 1 March 1986 in Kyiv, Ukraine and he moved to the UK at a young age. He graduated from a prestigious Drama Centre in London where he completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in acting. He made his debut in the year 2010 with the film 'The Tourist’.
Utgoff gained widespread popularity for his role as Alexei in Stranger Things in season 3. His follower count on social media increased significantly from 400 to 542k after his appearance on the show. Apart from Stranger Things, he has been part of various projects like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), San Andreas (2015), Mortdecai (2015), The Wrong Mans (2015), Never Gonna Snow Again (2020), and Gladiator II (2024).
Utgoff’s notable performance was in Never Gonna Snow Again (2020) where he played the lead role. This film won multiple awards in prestigious festivals. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. The film was selected as the Polish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Who is Alexei?
Alexei appeared in four episodes of Stranger Things season 3 - in episode 1 titled “ Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?”, episode 5 titled “Chapter Five: The Flayed”, episode 6 titled “Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum”, and episode 7 titled “Chapter Seven: The Bite”. He played the role of a Russian scientist involved in developing a technology to open gates to an alternate dimension. He was kidnapped by Hopper and Joyce from the Hess farmhouse. Chief Hopper named him “Smirnoff” because he’s Russian. Being unable to understand his language, they took him to Murray Bauman as he knew Russian. Alexei's knowledge about Russia's plan to unlock a doorway between worlds becomes insightful for them. With his help, they try to figure out a way to close the portal to the Upside Down.
His eccentric personality, love for Slurpees, and curiosity about American culture added light-heartedness and comedic relief to the show. His childlike behavior while solving serious matters helped create a bond between the characters.
FAQs about Alexei from Stranger Things
A. Alec Utgoff played the role of Alexei in Stranger Things season 3.
A. Yes, Alec Utgoff can speak Russian fluently.
A. Hopper called Alexei “Smirnoff”.
A. Alec Utgoff portrays Arkady Pashkin, a fixer for oligarch Ilya Nevsky, in Slow Horses Season 2.
