Eric Braeden
Braeden in 2013
Born
Hans-Jörg Gudegast

(1941-04-03) April 3, 1941
Bredenbek, Free State of Prussia, Germany
(present-day Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
EducationUniversity of Montana
OccupationActor
Years active1960–present
Spouse
Dale Russell
​
(m. 1966)​
ChildrenChristian Gudegast
Websiteericbraeden.com

Eric Braeden (born Hans-Jörg Gudegast; April 3, 1941) [1] is a German-born film and television actor, known for his roles as Victor Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, as Hans Dietrich in the 1960s TV series The Rat Patrol, Dr. Charles Forbin in Colossus: The Forbin Project, as Dr. Otto Hasslein in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, and as John Jacob Astor IV in the 1997 film Titanic. He won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1998 for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Victor Newman.[1][2]

Early life

Braeden was born Hans-Jörg Gudegast in Bredenbek, Germany (near Kiel),[1] a small village in northern Germany where his father was once mayor. He emigrated to the United States in 1959, and attended the University of Montana, Missoula.

In his autobiography, titled I'll Be Damned, published by Harper Collins in 2017,[3] Braeden said that he was a survivor of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff sinking. The ship was a German transport evacuating civilians, military personnel, and technicians as part of Operation Hannibal, which was sunk on January 30, 1945, by Soviet submarine S-13, in the Baltic Sea. An estimated 9,400 people died. It was the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking in history.

Career

Braeden accumulated many TV and film credits during his first two decades in America, and guest-starred in 120 roles. His earliest credits were all under his birth name, Hans Gudegast.

During the 1960s, he appeared in several episodes of TV's longest-running World War II drama (1962–1967) Combat!, always playing a German soldier. In 1965, he appeared in a film called Morituri starring Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner, and guest-starred in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. as T.H.R.U.S.H. agent Mr. Oakes in "The Discotheque Affair", season two, episode five.

Braeden in The Rat Patrol, 1966

In 1966, he guest-starred as Luftwaffe Major Bentz in episode 28, "Day of Reckoning", of season two of the TV series Twelve O'Clock High (a series which was very loosely based on the classic 1949 war film with the same name) and also appeared in an episode of the 1966 espionage drama series Blue Light. His main character for the next two years was his regular starring role playing German Hauptmann (Captain) Hans Dietrich on the TV series The Rat Patrol (1966–1968),

He starred in the 1969 Western 100 Rifles with Raquel Welch, Burt Reynolds, and Jim Brown (noted for the first big-screen interracial love scene between Welch and Brown), once again playing a villainous German military officer opposite Fernando Lamas. This was his last credit under his birth name.

His starring role in the movie Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), was when he first took the stage name of Eric Braeden. Lew Wasserman of Universal Pictures told him that no one would be allowed to star in an American film if he or she had a German name. After much thought, he took the name Braeden from his hometown of Bredenbek.[4]

His other movie appearances in the 1970s included the role of Dr. Otto Hasslein in Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), and that of the arrogant but formidable race-car driver, Bruno von Stickle, in Walt Disney's 1977 Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo. Throughout the 1970s, he also guest-starred in a variety of television shows, including The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and also appeared in several episodes of the long-running CBS Western series Gunsmoke.

Braeden in July 2007

In addition to many episodic roles, Braeden also appeared as Colonel John Jacob Astor IV in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. Braeden told Cindy Elavsky that filming the scene in Titanic, in which his character drowned, "was one of the scariest moments in this business for me."[5]

Victor Newman

In 1980, he was offered the role of self-made business magnate Victor Newman on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless. Initially, the role was for a 26-week run. His character imprisoned his wife's lover, and became so popular the character became a love-to-hate villain, and his contract was extended.

Braeden won a Daytime Emmy for his work in 1998. [6] In February 2017 he celebrated his 37th anniversary with the show.[7] In 2020, the show marked Braeden's 40th anniversary as Victor onscreen.[8]

In October 2009, Braeden and The Young and the Restless came to an impasse regarding contract negotiations, and press reports indicated he might leave the show. CBS later announced, though, that Braeden had inked a new three-year deal and would remain with the show, agreeing to a reduction in salary, which was the original issue.[9]

Personal life

In 1958, Braeden, under his birth name Hans-Jörg Gudegast, won the Germany National Team Championship in track and field (discus, shot put, and javelin) with the Rendsburger TSV. Braeden later went on to win the 1973 National Challenge Cup as a fullback with the Jewish American soccer club Maccabi Los Angeles, scoring the winning goal in the semifinal game and a penalty kick in the championship game against Chicago Croatian.[10] In the 1970s/80s, he could often be seen boxing at the Hoover Street and Broadway gyms in Los Angeles. He was a tennis player and has participated in many celebrity events.[11]

He married his college sweetheart Dale Russell in 1966. His son, Christian, is a director who created the film Den of Thieves, starring Gerard Butler.[11]

Health

In April 2023, Braeden announced he was diagnosed with "high-grade" bladder cancer.[12] He discovered his cancer diagnosis while recovering from knee-replacement surgery and while undergoing prostate-related treatment.[13] In August 2023, Braeden revealed he was now cancer-free.[14]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1961 Operation Eichmann Klaus
1962–1964 Combat! Corporal Hans Gruber / Sergeant Ecktmann 6 episodes
1965 Morituri Radio Officer Uncredited
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Mr. Oakes Episode: "The Discotheque Affair"
12 O'Clock High Major Gerhard Bentz / Captain Zoller 2 episodes
1966–1967 Mission: Impossible Andrei Fetyakov / Marcus Von Frank 2 episodes
1966–1968 The Rat Patrol Captain Hans Dietrich 58 episodes
1966 The Virginian Augustin Episodes: "No Drums, No Trumpets"
1968 Dayton's Devils Max Eikhart
1969 100 Rifles Lieutenant Franz Von Klemme
1969–1973 Hawaii Five-O Djebara / Klaus Marburg / Dr. Paul Farrar 3 episodes
1970 The Mask of Sheba Dr. Morgan TV movie
Colossus: The Forbin Project Dr. Charles A. Forbin
The Young Rebels Major Zanker Episode: "The Hostages"
1971 Escape from the Planet of the Apes Dr. Otto Hasslein
Mannix Viktor Gruniev Episode: “Woman in the Shadows”
Bearcats! Colonel Reinert Episode: "Dos Gringos"
1971–1974 Gunsmoke Jack Sinclair / Talley / Carl Jaekel 5 episode
1972 The Judge and Jake Wyler Anton Granicek TV movie
1973 McCloud Ravik Episode: "The Million Dollar Round Up"
Lady Ice Peter Brinker
The Six Million Dollar Man Findletter TV movie
Death Race Stoeffer TV movie
The Adulteress Hank Baron
1973-1975 Barnaby Jones Hans / Jennings / Raven / Steven Kingston 2 episodes
1974 Banacek Paul Bolitho Episode: "The Vanishing Chalice"
The Ultimate Thrill Roland Parlay
Kolchak: The Night Stalker Bernhardt Stieglitz Episode: "The Werewolf"
1975 Death Scream Kosinsky TV movie
1976 Cannon Carl Bruckner Episode: “The Quasar Kill”
1975–1978 Wonder Woman Donalsen / Captain Drangel 2 episodes
1977 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Karl Heller Episode: "The Critic"
Kojak Kenneth Krug Episode: "When You Hear the Beep, Drop Dead"
Code Name: Diamond Head Ernest Graeber TV movie
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo Bruno Von Stickle
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Leo Episode: "Murder! Murder!"
Piranha Dr. Robert Hoak (swimming double) Uncredited
1979 CHiPs Senator Bob Larwin Episode: "MAIT Team"
1980 The Aliens Are Coming Leonard Nero TV movie
1980–present The Young and the Restless Victor Newman
1981 Charlie's Angels John Reardon Episode: "Attack Angels"
1986 Airwolf Nick Kincaid Episode: "Birds of Paradise"
1986 Murder, She Wrote Colonel Gerhardt Brunner Episode: "One White Rose for Death"
1990 The Ambulance The Doctor
Lucky Chances Dimitri Stanislopolous 3 episodes
1993 Perry Mason: Wicked Wives David Morrison
1994 The Nanny Frank Bradley Sr. Episode: "Sunday in the Park with Fran"
1995 Diagnosis: Murder Himself Episode: "Death in the Daytime"
1997 Titanic John Jacob Astor IV
1998 Meet the Deedles Elton Deedle
1999 The Bold and the Beautiful Victor Newman 4 episodes (January 25-28, 1999 [15][16])
2008 The Man Who Came Back Reese Paxton
2008 How I Met Your Mother Robin Scherbatsky Sr. Episode: "Happily Ever After"
2018 Den of Thieves "Ziggy" Zerhusen

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations for Eric Braeden
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1986
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial The Young and the Restless Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
1988
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime The Young and the Restless Nominated
1989
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime The Young and the Restless Won
1990
 Distinguished German-American of the Year N/A Himself Won
1990
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime The Young and the Restless Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
1991
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime The Young and the Restless Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Male Performer In A Daytime Serial The Young and the Restless Won
1993
 Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Male Star The Young and the Restless Nominated
1994
 Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Male Star The Young and the Restless Nominated
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
1997
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime The Young and the Restless Won
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Won
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
1999
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor The Young and the Restless Nominated
2000
 Soap Opera Digest Award Favourite Actor The Young and the Restless Nominated
2001
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor The Young and the Restless Won
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Nominated
2005
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor The Young and the Restless Nominated
2007
 Hollywood Walk of Fame N/A Himself Won
2007
 Gilmore Award
the Pacific Pioneers, a radio
and television industry group		 N/A Himself Won
2009
 Friend of German Award
from the American Association
of Teachers of German		 N/A Himself Won
2017
 Soap Awards France Best Villain of the Year The Young and the Restless Won
2018
 Soap Awards France Best Actor of the Year The Young and the Restless Nominated
2018
 Soap Awards France Best Villain of the Year The Young and the Restless Nominated
2020
 Soap Hub Awards Favorite The Young and the Restless Actor The Young and the Restless Won

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eric Braeden". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1998". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  3. ↑ Braeden, Eric (2017). I'll Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to America's #1 Daytime Drama. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062476111.
  4. ↑ Weaver, Tom. "Eric Braeden Interview". In I Talked with a Zombie: Interviews with 23 veterans of Horror and Sci-fi Films and Television, McFarland, 2009, pp. 11–12
  5. ↑ Elavsky, Cindy (2012-03-16). "Celebrity Extra". Downriver Sunday Times. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  6. ↑ "Daytime Emmys Central: 25th Annual (1997-1998)".
  7. ↑ "I'll be Damned! Eric Braeden's Life Story is Soon to Hit Shelves – the Suds Hub". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  8. ↑ "TV Iron Man Eric Braeden Marks 40 Years on 'Young and the Restless'". 14 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Kate Stanhope. "Eric Braeden Returning to Young and the Restless". TVGuide.com.
  10. ↑ Zeller, Johnathan (June 29, 2015). "Los Angeles' Forgotten Jewish Soccer Dynasty". VICE Sports. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Victor, Victorious". Soap Opera Weekly. 2007-02-13. p. 32.
  12. ↑ "'Young and the Restless' star Eric Braeden reveals cancer diagnosis". MSN. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ "'Young and the Restless' star Eric Braeden says he has cancer — and reveals common symptom he had". Yahoo. 24 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Eric Braeden, 'Young and the Restless' star, says he's now cancer-free". CNN. 15 August 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ "B&B; Daily Recaps Archives - Recaps for The week of January 25, 1999". Soapcentral. Archived from the original on July 12, 2001. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "B&B; Daily Recaps Archives - Recaps for The week of January 25, 1999". Soapcentral. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ "1987 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City, New York: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  18. ↑ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1989". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. 11 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  19. ↑ Goudas, John N. (May 26, 1990). "Emmy nominees announced". TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama: Tennessee Valley Printing Co. p. 70. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ Richmond, Ray (April 5, 1996). "'Y&R' leads Emmy nominations". Observer–Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania: Observer Publishing Company. p. 11. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  21. ↑ "1997 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City, New York: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Readers just can't cope without scoop on soaps". Sun Journal. March 28, 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  23. ↑ Margulies, Lee (May 18, 1998). "'All My Children' Tops Daytime Emmys". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Daytime Emmy Nominees List 1". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Business Media. March 11, 1999. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  25. ↑ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 2001". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. 14 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  26. ↑ Havens, Candace (May 12, 2000). "Lead actress Emmy race too close to call". The Union Democrat. Sonora, California: Western Communications. p. 55. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  27. ↑ "The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 4, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Soap Awards France 2017 : Hélène Rollès, Les Mystères de l'amour, Ambroise Michel, Terre de passions, Eric Braeden... le palmarès complet". France: toutelatele.com and Médiamétrie. June 1, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  29. 1 2 "Soap Awards France 2018 : Sharon Case, Clément Rémiens, Fanny (Elsa Esnoult), Demain nous appartient... le palmarès complet". France: toutelatele.com and Médiamétrie. March 28, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  30. ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (September 2, 2020). "1st Annual Soap Hub Awards decided by fans honored 'Days of Our Lives,' Steve Burton, Sharon Case and more". Gold Derby. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
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