Eric Braeden

Infobox actor
name = Eric Braeden


caption = Eric Braeden (2007)
birthname = Hans Jörg Gudegast
birthdate = Birth date and age|1941|4|3|mf=y
birthplace = Bredenbek, Germany
website = http://www.ericbraeden.com
emmyawards = Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1998 "The Young and the Restless"
awards = Walk of Fame
2007 "The Young and the Restless"

Eric Braeden (born Hans Jörg Gudegast on April 3, 1941) is an Emmy Award-winning German film and television actor, best known for his role as Victor Newman on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless".

Early life

Eric Braeden was born in Bredenbek, Germany (near Kiel), where his father was once mayor, and emigrated to the USA in 1959. In the United States, Braeden attended The University of Montana in Missoula. While an American citizen, he also considers himself a loyal citizen of Germany, and holds dual citizenship. He has been awarded many German civic awards.

Career

Braeden accumulated many TV and film credits during his first two decades in America, most notably a role as the German Hauptmann (Captain) Hans Dietrich on the TV series "The Rat Patrol" (1966–1968), as well as a starring role in the movie "" (1970), in which he first took the stage name of Eric Braeden, and a supporting role in the 1971 film "Escape from the Planet of the Apes". He was also kept busy during the early 1970s in a variety of guest starring roles in such TV series as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Wonder Woman". He also appears, uncredited, as Bradford Dillman's de facto stunt double in the 1978 film "Piranha"--Braeden had originally been cast to play Dillman's character, Paul Grogan, and had shot some underwater swimming footage before the role was recast; Braeden's stunt footage ended up in the finished film anyway.

In 1980, he was offered the role of self-made magnate Victor Newman on "The Young and the Restless" for a 26 week run. Upon imprisoning his wife's lover, the character became a love-to-hate villain, and his contract was renewed. Still on the show today, Braeden won a Daytime Emmy for his work in 1998.

In late December 1991, Braeden and Peter Bergman had a physical altercation backstage. According to press reports, after exchanging bitter words on the set, Braeden showed up at Bergman's dressing room door to further discuss the matter and violence ensued. Since then, the actors have resolved their differences and now enjoy a cordial relationship.

In 1997, he played Colonel John Jacob Astor IV in the blockbuster film "Titanic".

During the early 1970s, Braeden appeared as a guest star in several episodes of the CBS western "Gunsmoke".

His current project "The Man Who Came Back," an independent Western film of double-cross and revenge, is written and directed by Louisiana's own Glen Pitre.

Personal life

Braeden has a wife, Dale Gudegast, and is regarded as a very good tennis player.cite news | title=Victor, Victorious | date=2007-02-13 | publisher= "Soap Opera Weekly"| page = 32 ] Actor Clarence Williams III is one of his best friends.

Braeden and Dale were witnesses at the wedding for Bob Crane and Sigrid Valdis while on the set of " Hogan's Heroes ".

He has a son who co-wrote the film a man apart, and he also has a 3 year old granddaugther through his son.

Awards, honors and nominations

Braeden won a Daytime Emmy for his work in 1998.

On July 20, 2007, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Braeden received the Gilmore Award from the Pacific Pioneers, a radio and television industry group, in 2007.

*Daytime Emmys -Winner, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1998)
*Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1987, 1990, 1996, 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
*Distinguished German-American of the Year 1990

Roles

ee also

*Victor Newman and Nikki Reed
*Supercouple
*Distinguished German-American of the Year

References

External links

*
* [http://www.ericbraeden.com Eric Braeden's Official Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SJlm_1pC0c Interview on The Gregory Mantell Show]
* [http://www.gahfusa.org/displayboard.cfm?defaultdisplay=30528#30528/ Distinguished German-American of the Year 1990 by the German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA in Washington, DC]
* [http://www.popcultureaddict.com/television/ericbraeden.htm Tonight Eric Braeden Will Eat Your Soul: A Look At the Pre-Soap Career of TV's Black Knight] at Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict