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.
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
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
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)
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
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]
News Archives: Fear in the sky for Y&R's Eric Braeden. [Oct 1, 2001]
News Archives: Y&R's Victor to be diagnosed with epilepsy. [Jul 2, 2006]
News Archives: Eric Braeden receives star on Walk of Fame. [Jul 25, 2007]
News Archives: Braeden admits he nearly walked away from Y&R. [Mar 24, 2008]
News Archives: In a shocker, Y&R writes out Eric Braeden's Victor Newman. [Sep 28, 2009]
News Archive: Y&R stars speak out on Braeden contract mess. [Oct 16, 2009]
News Archive: Braeden says it's the "end of the road," won't return to Y&R. [Oct 16, 2009]
News Archive: The wait is over: Victor Newman returns to Genoa City. [Jan 11, 2010]
News Archive: Braeden fires back after star calls him a "d-bag." [Dec 17, 2010]
News Archive: Eric Braeden shares favorite Y&R memory, most cherished award. [Jan 6, 2011]
News Archive: Rumor: Is Eric Braeden leaving Y&R. [Jul 17, 2012]
News Archive: Eric Braeden inks multi-year contract with Y&R. [Sep 19, 2012]
News Archive: VIDEO: Y&R's Eric Braeden on age, his heartbreaking childhood and when he plans to retire [Sep 29, 2015]
News Archive: Y&R and Dallas alum George Kennedy passes away [Mar 1, 2016]
News Archive: Is orange Victor's new black? Y&R's Eric Braeden previews his alter ego's downfall [Mar 2, 2016]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden releasing memoir [May 1, 2016]
News Archive: Y&R reveals new cast photo in celebration of 11,000th episode [Jul 19, 2016]
News Archive: WATCH: Christian LeBlanc interviews cast mates about Y&R's 11,000th episode, the Bell family's "dream come true" [Sep 1, 2016]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden opens up about his memoir, I'll Be Damned [Nov 1, 2016]
News Archive: Five shocking revelations from Eric Braeden's new memoir, I'll Be Damned [Jan 30, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden set for cameo opposite 50 Cent in gangster crime film Den of Thieves [Mar 6, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden named grand marshal of the 2017 International Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions [Apr 7, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R's Eileen Davidson addresses reported spats with Eric Braeden [Apr 6, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden guest stars on Single Mom A Go-Go [May 19, 2017]
News Archive: Eric Braeden reunites with Michelle Stafford on Single Mom A Go-Go [May 19, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden inducted into the German-American Hall of Fame [Jun 16, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R star Eric Braeden's memoir now available in paperback [Nov 8, 2017]
News Archive: Y&R stars celebrate Kristoff St. John's return [Mar 16, 2018]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) responds to social media comments about his health [Jun 26, 2018]
News Archive: Eric Braeden takes big break from Y&R [Sep 13, 2018]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden returns, voices opinion on diminishing fan-favorite actors [Sep 25, 2018]
News Archive: WATCH: Eric Braeden on Y&R's profound effect on viewers [Oct 15, 2018]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden says one "hell of a storyline" is on the horizon for Victor's return [Oct 24, 2018]
News Archive: Y&R's Doug Davidson, Eric Braeden weigh in on Mal Young's exit [Dec 19, 2018]
News Archive: MELODY OF LOVE: Daytime stars celebrate iconic Y&R star Melody Thomas Scott's 40th anniversary [Feb 21, 2019]
News Archive: Eric Braeden re-enacts famous sports rants as The Young and the Restless' Victor Newman [Mar 7, 2019]
News Archive: Melody Thomas Scott would love to see The Young and the Restless' Newman family "fall hard" [Mar 26, 2019]
News Archive: Oh no! Victor Newman... DEAD?! (Don't panic just yet -- he's died before) [Sep 16, 2019]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden lip-syncs to benefit UNICEF [Oct 17, 2019]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden forced to evacuate as fires rage in California [Oct 30, 2019]
News Archive: Eric Braeden teases vet-heavy story on The Young and the Restless [Jan 29, 2020]
News Archive: 40 YEARS: Eric Braeden marks milestone anniversary as Y&R's Victor Newman with three special episodes [Feb 6, 2020]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless dedicates entire week to Victor and Nikki with classic episodes [Apr 28, 2020]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden talks retirement plans as his 80th birthday nears [Mar 25, 2021]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless turns 48, Eric Braeden promises "the best is yet to come" [Mar 29, 2021]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden dishes on Victor, Adam relationship [May 25, 2021]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden celebrates 42nd anniversary, chats Victor's next chapter [Feb 8, 2022]
News Archive: Eric Braeden blasts former Y&R co-star: Our actresses would run rings around you!! [Mar 19, 2023]
News Archive: WATCH: Which Y&R star knows their lines the best (and more interesting facts about the cast) [Mar 22, 2023]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden reveals he is being treated for prostate cancer [Apr 22, 2023]
News Archive: Y&R's Eric Braeden is cancer-free [Aug 16, 2023]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden has an important health message for fans [Feb 21, 2024]
News Archive: Eric Braeden is in awe of how Melody Thomas Scott spent her Young and Restless 45th anniversary [Feb 27, 2024]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden and Michelle Stafford have something incredible to celebrate [Feb 28, 2024]
News Archive: Nadia's Theme: The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden poses with Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci [Mar 11, 2024]
News Archive: The Young and the Restless' Eric Braeden reveals whether he's ready to retire [Mar 18, 2024]
