It was a surreal moment when director James Cameron, in the midst of the Titanic's sinking scene, turned to Eric Braeden and said the single word, "Never." Eric's face lit up with confusion as he turned toward the voice. Cameron then clarified, referencing not Eric's iconic role as Victor Newman in "The Young and the Restless," but his portrayal of Dr. Charles Forbin in the sci-fi thriller "Colossus: The Forbin Project." This film, his first major Hollywood role, remains a bittersweet memory for Eric.
Eric Braeden, a man whose career spans decades, found himself reflecting on the unexpected impact of "Colossus." Smiling, he realized that Cameron wasn’t referring to his long-running role on the soap opera but to his portrayal of a scientist battling a rogue AI in a 1970s film. This revelation sparked thoughts of his journey, filled with triumphs and challenges, as he navigated the often-tumultuous waters of Hollywood.
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Eric recalls a time when he was in Spain with his wife, working on a film with Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas. He flew back to Los Angeles to audition for "Colossus," where he impressed the producers. “I flew from Spain back to LA to do the screen test for Colossus,” Eric reminisces. “A few days later, my agent called, saying, ‘They loved it. Lew Wasserman [then head of Universal] loved it.’ Of course, I was ecstatic — to star in a picture is about as happy as you can get in this business. For me, starring in an American picture was an absolutely extraordinary feeling.”
However, the joy was short-lived. In the same call, Eric learned that the studio wanted him to change his name. “In the next breath,” Eric explains, “he said, ‘But they want you to change your name.’ I’ve never experienced such an emotional swing as in that ten seconds, from complete elation to total dejection.”
Eric's Journey to America
Born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, Eric was the third of four sons. A natural athlete, he led his high school team to the National German Youth championship. After graduation in 1959, he left Germany for America. “I saw the United States as a land of opportunity,” Eric reflects, “but also as the land of adventure, the land of cowboys and Indians.” Arriving in New York by boat, he spent a few days there before heading to Galveston, Texas, where he worked as a translator. Later, he worked as a cowboy in Montana, attended Montana State University on a partial track scholarship, and eventually found his way to Los Angeles, where he learned that German actors were in demand.
