Eric Braeden
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
- 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․"
- 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
- 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
- 2026Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor:Nominated