An Emmy for “The Young and the Restless”

Eric Braeden has appeared in many episodes of a wide variety of American TV series, from “Hawaii Five-O” to “The Nanny,” but he is best known for a role he has made his own since 1980. Millions of soap opera fans know him as Victor Newman in CBS's “The Young and the Restless.” In 1998 Braeden received an Emmy for his long-running portrayal of the subtly sinister character whom soap fans “respect and admire.”

Eric Braeden hosts a 2003 Q&A and screening of
Percy Adlon's (left) documentary “Königs Kugel”
at the Goethe Institute, Los Angeles.
PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

Ironically, Braeden was reluctant to star in a soap opera, because he thought it would be “too confining.“ Now, after being honored with an Emmy, a People's Choice Award (1992), and the 1997 Soap Opera Update Award, Braeden can better appreciate the role he has played for over 20 years.

But the German-American actor also takes pride in his efforts to improve relations between his homeland and the United States. In 1989 Braeden helped organize and found the German-American Cultural Society (GACS) in Southern California. For such efforts, in 1991 the German government awarded Braeden the Bundesverdienstkreuz, a medal of honor reserved for people who have promoted a positive image of Germany abroad. Braeden is also active within the German-American community in Southern California. Although he is not able to visit his native Germany very often, he has managed to keep his German language skills current while eliminating any trace of a German accent in his English.

The actor is still married to Dale Russell, the American lady he married many years ago during his “Rat Patrol” days. They have an adult son, Christian Gudegast, who has done some screenwriting. The Gudegast/Braeden family lives in Pacific Palisades. Eric Braeden's German parents are no longer alive (his father died when he was only 12), but he has three brothers who still live in Germany.

On the next page learn more about Eric Braeden's work in television and on the big screen.

N E X T > Eric Braeden Filmography/Links

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