‘The Young and the Restless’ Star Eric Braeden Reveals If He Plans to Exit the Role of Victor Soon
The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden is one of the oldest stars in daytime television. Braeden recently talked about if he is planning to leave the show.
Eric Braeden is one of the longest-tenured cast members on ‘The Young and the Restless’
The actor has portrayed Victor ever since he was first introduced in 1980. This part was supposed to be one that wasn’t meant to be on the show for a long time. However, Braeden ended up signing a contract and staying on the show for years to come.
In a talk that he did that was posted on The Young and the Restless‘ social accounts, Braeden said that he almost quit the show before he even started in the role of Victor.
“I hated it,” he said. “I couldn’t stand it. Because I played a bad guy, and I had burned out playing bad guys. I’ve played bad guys on over 120 television shows, and I was sick and tired of it.”
When he met with creator William J. Bell about the character, he was able to influence the direction of the character. “I asked Bill Bell to imbue this character with a background that explains why he became who he was,” the actor added. A scene that he had with Melody Thomas Scott, who plays Nikki Newman, was able to change his mind. “Once I played that scene, I walked in my dressing room and I called my wife,” he explained. “I said ‘I’m gonna stay,’ Because I could see it open all kinds of possibilities.”
Eric Braeden on if he is thinking about leaving the role of Victor Newman on ‘The Young and the Restless’
In a new interview, Braeden talked about being on the show for 41 years and if he plans to leave the show anytime soon.
“I feel very loyal to The Young and the Restless, very beholden to Victor and very beholden to the audience who has supported us for all those years,” he said to People magazine. “I intend to stay as long as I can. I’ve always looked for meaning in acting,” he added. “But I’ve learned to understand that the essence of what we do is to entertain, to make people happy. Melody Thomas Scott, who plays Nikki, I adore her, love her. She has put up with me and I sometimes am not the easiest guy to get along with, sometimes.”
Ultimately, Braeden doesn’t plan on leaving the show or the industry any time soon.
“I’m turning 80 [on April 3] and while that’s one number that I sort of shy away from, I’m very proud of it,” he said, adding that he has no plans to slow down. “I love my life,” relayed the actor. “I love my colleagues. I love my family and friends. So do I see myself retiring anytime soon? H**l no! My life has been enriched by having been introduced to so many things…. I feel very loyal to The Young and the Restless, very beholden to Victor and very beholden to the audience who has supported us for all those years. I intend to stay as long as I can.”
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS.
