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Eric Braeden Biography

Birth Name:Hans-Jörg Gudegast

Birth Place:Kiel, Germany

Profession Actor, Producer

Fast Facts

  • When offered the lead role in the daytime drama "The Young and Restless," he reluctantly accepted, which brought him stardom as well as 5 Emmy nominations and three Soap Opera Digest Outstanding Lead Actor Awards
  • Immigrated to the U․S․ when he was a teenager, working small and odd jobs as a translator, lumber mill hand, and cowhand showing athleticism, eventually receiving a scholarship to Montana State University
  • Once he was given the lead in the sci-fi thriller, "Colossus: The Forbin Project," his career took off, pushing him to legally change his name to Eric Braeden
  • He started out playing small roles under his real name, Hans Jörg Gudegast, including when he had his first lead role on the WWII TV series "The Rat Patrol․"
  • Received the Federal Medal of Honor in 1991 from the president of Germany at the time, Helmut Kohl
  • While still in college, he and a friend made a film, "The Riverbusters," later traveling to Los Angeles to find a distributor for the film, but instead found an interest om acting

Awards

  • 1986Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial: nominated
  • 1987Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1988Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime: nominated
  • 1989Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime: winner
  • 1990Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1990Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime: nominated
  • 1991Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime: nominated
  • 1993Soap Opera Digest Award-Hottest Male Star: nominated
  • 1994Soap Opera Digest Award-Hottest Male Star: nominated
  • 1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Leading Actor: winner
  • 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Soap Opera Digest Award-Favorite Actor: nominated
  • 2001Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: winner
  • 2002Special Fan Award-America's Favorite Couple: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Daytime Serial: nominated
  • 2004Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2005Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Daytime Serial: nominated
  • 20201st Annual Soap Hub Award-Favorite The Young & The Restless Actor: winner
  • 20212nd Annual Soap Hub Award-Favorite The Young & The Restless Actor: winner
  • 2024Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series: nominated