Show Notes
Some actors play powerful men. Others understand what power actually costs.
On this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko sits down with legendary actor Eric Braeden, the man behind Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, a role he’s defined for more than four decades.
But this conversation goes far beyond daytime television.
From growing up in post-war Germany, to arriving in America and confronting its contradictions, to working with icons like Marlon Brando and James Cameron, Eric shares a deeply personal and unfiltered look at the life experiences that shaped both the man and the character.
He opens up about the brutal demands of soap operas, the psychology behind Victor Newman, the reality of Hollywood, and why acting, at its core, is about truth, discipline, and survival.
This is a powerful, honest conversation about legacy, resilience, and what it really means to endure in this business.
THIS IS STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD, I’M STEVE KMETKO. JOIN ME WITH TODAY’S GUEST, FROM THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, ACTOR ERIC BRAEDEN.
00:00 Opening Tease 00:01 Intro, Eric Braeden 01:25 Seinfeld, Comedy, and Great Casting 03:07 The Brutal Reality of Daytime TV 05:00 Why Acting Still Excites Him 06:16 Growing Up in Post-War Germany 09:51 Loss, Hardship, and Early Life 13:08 Working with Brando, Duvall, Legends 14:21 Hollywood, Cynicism, and Purpose 16:55 Why Acting Became Meaningful 19:27 Could Brando Handle Soap Operas? 21:07 Inside a 100+ Page Workday 22:36 Sports, Discipline, and Competition 24:48 Why He Didn’t Choose Sports 25:25 Life Outside Acting, Staying Sharp 31:49 What Young Actors Get Wrong 35:25 Almost Turning Down Titanic 41:56 Working with James Cameron 42:16 Thoughts on Streaming vs TV 46:43 Eric vs Victor Newman 47:08 The Evolution of Victor Newman 50:09 Breaking Out of “Bad Guy” Roles 51:08 Discovering the Truth About History 55:48 A Life-Changing Moment in America 59:53 His Autobiography 01:01:18 Closing Thoughts
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