Eric Braeden "Young and the Restless" / "Titanic"
5/4/20261 hr 2 min
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
Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSteve Kmetko· Host0:00
[instrumental music] Yes, I'm still here, Hollywood. And coming up on today's episode, for more than four decades, he has played one of the most powerful, polarizing, and unforgettable characters in television history. A man who could intimidate a boardroom with a whisper, destroy enemies with a glance, and still somehow command loyalty from millions of viewers around the world. He didn't just play a role, he built a dynasty, turning daytime television into appointment viewing, and proving that a soap opera character could become as iconic as any primetime anti-hero. This is Still Here, Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko. Join me with today's guest from The Young and the Restless, actor Eric Braeden. Thank you very much for coming in today. Uh, I appreciate you sitting down in that chair.
Eric Braeden· Guest0:48
Steve, uh- You don't know what you're up to or up for. Well, you know, uh, I trust you. I've heard some of your interviews or seen them, and, um, you're a very bright man, and you listen well. So here we go.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:04
I'll do my best.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:05
All right.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:06
Can I call you Eric?
Eric Braeden· Guest1:07
Of course.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:07
Okay.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:08
Well [laughs] Thank you. What did [laughs] what were you suggesting?
Steve Kmetko· Host1:12
Oh, I have a number of names that I call people.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:14
Okay, well, that's fine.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:15
But not you.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:16
That's fine.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:16
Uh, my mother's maiden name was Newman.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:19
Really?
Steve Kmetko· Host1:19
Yes.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:20
Yeah.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:21
We used to call her Newman, like w- like they do on Seinfeld.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:25
That's so funny.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:26
Yeah. So- I worked with them.
Eric Braeden· Guest1:27
Seinfeld is my, my favorite