Eugene Hütz (Ukrainian: Євгеній Гудзь; real name Evgeniy Nikolaev, born in Kiev, Ukraine, on October 31st 1972) is a musician and actor. He moved from Ukraine to Burlington, Vermont with his parents following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, living as a refugee from the age 14. Later, he moved to New York, where he now fronts and plays acoustic guitar for his gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello. Hütz also DJs regularly at Mehanata in New York City.
Gogol Bordello attracted the attention of the producer Peter Saraf; this led to Eugene's role as Alex in Everything Is Illuminated, based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Jonathan Safran Foer; Hütz also contributed to the soundtrack for Everything Is Illuminated along with his brother and several of his band members. Several Gogol Bordello songs are used in the film Wristcutters - A Love Story (2004), based on the short story and graphic novel Kneller's Happy Campers by Etgar Keret (in the original story, a rockstar suicide is featured, but in the film, the character's name is changed to Eugene and it is this character's music that features Eugene Hutz's compositions.Wristcutters - A Love Story Hütz's filmography also includes Kill Your Darlings (2004), and Kill Your Idols (2004).
Hütz is also the subject of a documentary film directed by Pavla Fleischer, The Pied Piper of Hützovina (2006), which follows his annual trip across Ukraine and Eastern Europe exploring his musical roots. The film features his idol, Sasha Kolpakov of the Kolpakov Trio. Hutz is an avid supporter of Romani Rights, using his music to introduce the gypsy culture to others.
