The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden celebrates his birthday 

The Young and the Restless character Victor Newman is attempting to get his company, Newman Enterprises, back from Phyllis Summers. Off-screen, Victor's portrayer, Eric Braeden, is enjoying something far more pleasurable -- he's celebrating his birthday!

The Young and the Restless, Happy Birthday, Eric Braeden

Eric Braeden was born on April 3, with the name Hans-Jörg Gudegast in Bredenbek, Germany. When he came to the United States, he first lived in New York. He later landed a job in the medical laboratory of his cousin, a doctor, in Texas. Braeden was awarded a track and field scholarship at the University of Missoula, Montana.

When Braeden began acting, he worked under the name "Hans Gudegast" before changing it to Eric Braeden. Ironically, Victor Newman was born with a different handle -- Christian Miller.

Braeden's acting credits pre-Y&R included Combat!, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as Mr. Oakes, an agent of T.H.R.U.S.H. He was cast as Captain Hans Dietrick on Rat Patrol, which aired from 1966 to 1968.

On the big screen, Braeden appeared as Dr. Otto Hasslein in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, and as race-car driver, Bruno von Stickle, in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo. TV guest spots include appearances on The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. On the latter, he played a pompous on-air critic who ended up getting a pie in the face from Ted Knight's Ted Baxter. Braeden also appeared in the film Titanic as John Jacob Astor IV.

The Great Victor Newman

Of course, it's his role as Victor that Braeden is most known for playing. Cast in 1980, the part was only supposed to run approximately six months. Victor was a cad who imprisoned his wife, Julia's (Meg Bennett) lover, Michael Scott (Nick Benedict), in his basement as revenge.

However, the series creator, head writer, and executive producer, William J. Bell, was so impressed with Braeden's performance that he decided to keep the character around, creating the backstory that Christian had been left at an orphanage by his destitute mother, Cora Miller (Dorothy McGuire).

Victor's popularity grew after he was paired with Melody Thomas Scott's Nikki. The couple, while on the ropes right now, emerged as a supercouple. They've been married many times and always find their way back to one another.

Braeden won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1998 for his performance as Victor Newman.

Wed to college sweetheart Dale Russell since 1966, Braeden and his wife have a son, Christian Gudegast, a director.

In 2023, Braeden announced that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer, which had been discovered while he was recovering from knee-replacement surgery and was undergoing a prostate-related treatment. Later that year, Braeden shared the news that he was cancer-free.

Braeden is currently enjoying, arguably, one of his best storylines ever on The Young and the Restless. A few years ago, Victor had his original ranch rebuilt as a gift for Nikki. He is currently working to regain control of Newman Enterprises, and he's not above doing anything to make that happen!

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Soap Central wishes Eric Braeden a happy birthday!

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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