Soaps
All About ‘Y&R’ Legend Eric Braeden’s Wife & Their Private Love Story
Eric Braeden, whose real name is Hans-Jörg Gudegast, has played powerful patriarch Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless for over 40 years. While Victor has romanced plenty of women in Genoa City and created an epic supercouple with Victor and Nikki Newman, Braeden’s heart has only ever belonged to one woman: his wife, Dale Russell Gudegast.
The German actor is vocal about his work and personal opinions on social media, but he’s always made a point to protect his wife’s privacy. From how they met to their family, learn more about Eric Braeden’s wife and their love story below.
Who is Eric Braeden’s wife?
Eric Braeden’s wife, Dale Russell Gudegast, has worked as a pillow designer and interior designer. While Braeden’s career has kept him in the spotlight, Gudegast has preferred to keep her work out of the public eye. She did make a brief appearance in the 2001 movie Holiday in the Sun.
“Because Dale is so private, people don’t realize how much she influences what I do or don’t do. I make many decisions only after consulting her. She has been a supportive and calming influence in my life,” the Titanic actor wrote on his website.
How did Eric Braeden and his wife meet?
The couple met in college. Braeden and Gudegast were both attending Santa Monica College when they crossed paths. He was studying economics and philosophy, while she was an art major.
How long have Eric Braeden and his wife been married?
Braeden and Gudegast have been happily married since 1966. The couple put down roots over 45 years ago in the Pacific Palisades. Their home tragically burned down in the devastating Los Angeles fires in early 2025.
“When I saw the ashes, I looked into the rubble and remembered my wife and my granddaughter, who we adore, sitting there before Christmas and having a wonderful conversation about her experiences and her travels,” Braeden told TV Insider.
Braeden and Gudegast have been each other’s support systems for over half their lives, and the actor is grateful to have had his longtime love by his side. “My wife has been supportive of me since we first knew each other, long before I became well known,” Braeden told Coming of Age magazine in 2011. “I have an enormous sense of deep loyalty to her and we’ve been very supportive of each other. She’s been especially supportive of me and given me a wonderful family.”
Do Eric Braeden and his wife have kids?
Braeden and Gudegast’s only child, Christian Gudegast, was born in February 1970. He notably directed Den of Thieves and its sequel, both starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. Christian also wrote the 2016 film London Has Fallen.
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“He has embarked upon an extremely promising career as a screenwriter, doing something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the guts to pursue,” Braeden said of his son.
The couple has three granddaughters: Tatiana, Oksana, and Angelika. Braeden frequently posts on Instagram about his granddaughters.
The Young and the Restless, Weekdays, CBS
