Hans "Eric Braeden" Gudegast

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Eric Braeden
Genoa City Presence
1980 to Present
At A Glance

Born Hans Gudegast, Eric Braeden emigrated to the U.S. in 1959 from the port city of Kiel, West Germany and became a naturalized citizen while attending college. He joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as wealthy tycoon Victor Newman in 1980.


Braeden received Daytime Emmy nominations as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1990, 1997 and 1999, 2000 and 2004; he won the coveted award in 1998. He also won the Soap Opera Update Award in 1997 as Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series and was honored as Most Popular Daytime Actor at the People's Choice Awards in 1998. Braeden was nominated for a Soap Opera Award in the category of Best Lead Actor in 1999.


On July 20, 2007, Braeden received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, making him the first German born actor to receive a star since Marlene Dietrich in 1960.


Braeden has appeared in more than 120 television series, as well as a number of made-for-television movies including The Judge and Mrs. Wyler with Bette Davis, Happily Ever After with Suzanne Somers and Tyne Daly, and the Jackie Collins mini-series Lucky. He has appeared in the films Operation Eichmann, The Ultimate Chase, Escape from the Planet of the Apes and Morituri with Marlon Brando. He also co-starred as John Jacob Astor in James Cameron's feature film Titanic.


Braeden was born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, a port city near the Baltic Sea. He immigrated to the United States in 1959. Braeden lived in Texas for several years and worked in the University of Texas medical school lab before moving to Los Angeles, where he attended Santa Monica College. He joined a local semi-professional soccer team while launching his acting career.


In 1989, Braeden was chosen as the only actor to be on the newly formed German American Advisory Board. The illustrious group includes Dr. Henry Kissinger, Katherine Graham, Alexander Haig, Steffi Graf and Paul Volcher.


Braeden maintains an active athletic regimen. He continues to play soccer with several teams, including the Maccabees, with whom he won the 1972-73 National Soccer Championship. He and his wife, Dale, live in Los Angeles. The couple has a son, Christian.


Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives
David Morrison
1993

Jackie Collins' Lucky/Chances
Dimitri Stanislopolous
1990

The Power Within
Stephens
1980

The Young and the Restless
Victor Newman
1980 to Present

The Aliens Are Coming
Leonard Nero
1980

Happily Ever After
Ross Ford
1978

How the West Was Won
Frances Britten, Episodes 8-10
1978

Code Name: Diamond Head
Ernest Graeber
1977

The New Original Wonder Woman
Captain Drange
1975

Death Scream
Kosinsky
1975

Gunsmoke
William Talley
1974

Death Race
Stoeffer
1973

The Judge and Jake Wyler
Anton Granicek
1972

Gunsmoke
Jack Sinclair
1971

Gunsmoke
Carl Jaekel
1971

The Mask of Sheba
Dr. Roan Morgan
1970

Honeymoon with a Stranger
Frederico Caprio
1969

The Rat Patrol
Hauptmann (Captain) Hans Deitrich
1966

Operation Eichmann
Klaus
1961
Acting Portfolio: FILM
The Man Who Came Back
Reese Paxton
2008

The Gold & the Beautiful
Thanks
20081

The Titanic Chronicles
J. Bruce Ismay
1999

Meet the Deedles
Elton Deedle
1998

Titanic
John Jacob Astor
1997

The Ambulance
The Doctor
1990

Piranha
Dr. Robert Hoak (swimming double)
1978

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Bruno Von Stickle
1977

The Ultimate Thrill
Roland
1974

Lady Ice
Peter Brinker
1973

The Adulteress
Hank Baron
1973

Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Dr. Otto Hasslein
1971

Colossus: The Forbin Project
Dr. Charles Forbin
1970

100 Rifles
Lt. Franz Von Klemme
1969

Dayton's Devils
Max Eikhart
1968

Morituri
Radio Officer
1965

Operation Eichmann
Klaus
1961
Awards & Acclaim
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1998)

Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2024)

Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2004, 2005, 2008)

18th Annual People's Choice Award for Most Popular Daytime Actor
Vital Statistics

PLACE OF BIRTH: Kiel, West Germany

DATE OF BIRTH: April 3, 1941

HEIGHT: 6'2"

HAIR: Brown

EYES: Brown

MARITAL STATUS: Married to wife Dale

CHILDREN: Son, Christian [Feb 9, 1971]

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