In the fast-paced, drama-filled world of Hollywood, lasting love stories are rare. But Eric Braeden, beloved for his role as the iconic Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, has spent over six decades in a marriage that defies the odds. His partnership with Dale Russell Gudegast is not just a testament to love, but to enduring commitment, resilience, and the quiet strength of a woman who stood by him through it all.
Before Eric Braeden became synonymous with Victor Newman, he was just a young German immigrant named Hans-Jörg Gudegast with big dreams and an eye for philosophy and sports cars. It was at Santa Monica College that Eric first met Dale, a strong-willed art major with no time for his dramatics. "She had this no-nonsense attitude, and absolutely no time for my dramatics," Eric recalls, "So, of course, I was hooked.
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Their relationship sparked quickly, and it wasn’t long before they tied the knot in 1966. While Eric was becoming a household name in daytime television, Dale, an interior designer and pillow artisan, remained far away from the limelight. But despite their contrasting public lives—Eric’s soap opera fame and Dale’s commitment to privacy—their bond remained unbreakable. As Eric himself jokingly put it, “People think I’m the decision-maker, but most of the time, I just ask Dale what I’m allowed to say.
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