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.
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]