Before he was Victor Newman, the brooding billionaire heartthrob of Genoa City, he was Hans-Jörg Gudegast—a sharp-eyed German immigrant with a penchant for philosophy and sports cars. Fast-forward a few decades, and boom—he's soap opera royalty, sipping champagne on set at CBS Television City, flanked by his elegant wife Dale and their film-directing son, Christian.
February 1st, 2005 marked the 25th anniversary of Eric Braeden playing Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless.
But behind the tuxedos, flashbulbs, and soap opera glam, there was a family story that could rival any Y&R plotline.
While Victor romanced half of Genoa City onscreen, offscreen, Eric Braeden only ever had eyes for one woman—Dale Russell Gudegast. Interior designer, pillow artisan, and professional privacy enthusiast, Dale has stayed largely out of the public eye for over five decades.
"People think I'm the decision-maker," Eric once joked in an interview, "but most of the time, I just ask Dale what I'm allowed to say.
"
Cue knowing chuckles from anyone who's been married for more than five minutes.
They met at Santa Monica College—he was studying economics and philosophy, she was deep in the arts. "She had this no-nonsense attitude and absolutely no time for my dramatics," Eric reminisced. "So, of course, I was hooked."
They tied the knot in 1966, and unlike the never-ending affairs, betrayals, and identity swaps on Y&R, their love story has been refreshingly boring—in the best way possible.
"Dale has been my anchor," Eric told Coming of Age magazine. "While the rest of the world went bonkers, she kept things grounded."
They settled in Pacific Palisades, where the only real drama was choosing between hardwood or marble for the kitchen remodel. That is, until tragedy struck.
In early 2025, wildfires swept through parts of Los Angeles, reducing the couple's home—and decades of memories—to ashes.
"When I looked into the rubble, I didn't see just things," Eric told TV Insider, his voice catching.
"I saw Dale and our granddaughter sitting there by the fireplace before Christmas, talking about life. That moment is what I grieve."
And yet, the man who's battled boardroom rivals and survived more than a few fake deaths on TV? He's not giving up.
Their only child, Christian Gudegast, didn't take to soap sets. Instead, he went full Hollywood action hero—behind the camera. With blockbusters like Den of Thieves and London Has Fallen, he's proof that storytelling runs in the family… just with more explosions.
"I always wanted to write movies," Eric admitted, "but I didn't have the guts. Christian? He dove right in—and now he's making the kind of films I watch with a whiskey in hand."
Not only is Eric a soap icon and father to a movie director, he's also a doting grandfather to three little girls: Tatiana, Oksana, and Angelika. And yes, they occasionally steal the spotlight on his Instagram.
One particularly sweet post read:
"Tatiana just told me I'm her second-favorite person after Elsa.
Fair enough."
As of today, Eric Braeden's tenure as Victor Newman has eclipsed four decades—and he shows no sign of slowing down (unless his granddaughter tells him to).
He's survived plot twists, evil twins, hostile takeovers, and now, the real-life loss of his home. But one thing is clear: Dale is still by his side, Christian is still behind the camera, and Victor Newman? Still terrifying his rivals on CBS.
Or as Braeden once growled (probably):
"I've been written off the show more times than I can count.
And yet, here I am. You don't retire a legend. You just rerun him."
Want the soap, the sass, and the soul of daytime drama? Eric Braeden is still the name to know—and behind every great man is a woman who made sure he wore matching socks to his anniversary gala.
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