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‘I’ll Be Damned’: ‘The Young And The Restless’ Patriarch Eric Braeden Writes A Memoir Detailing His Rough Beginning, To His Rise To Soap Opera Stardom

By Chrissie Williams
Published on: 13:46 PST, Apr 30, 2016

The Young and the Restless patriarch Eric Braeden announced that he was writing a memoir, Soap Opera Digest reported. The book would detail his life growing up in Germany and his rise to stardom. Braeden revealed that the book will be titled, I’ll Be Damned and will be released and sold on Amazon on February 7, 2017.

Eric Braeden was born on April 3, 1941, as Hans-Jörg Gudegast in a small town in Germany called Kiel. His father was the mayor of his hometown before the war. Once the war took over his little town, he recalls explosions going off all the time, day and night. He explained that over 500,000 bombs were released in Kiel in that time, and 96 percent of his hometown was destroyed. Eric explained that Kiel was targeted with so many bombs because it was a “Navy shipyard” and a big military target.

Braeden said in an interview that he was born in a time of great turmoil, and out of the ashes, he came out stronger. His father passed away when he was a young child, and he started working as a youngster to help his mother feed his family. Eric recalled feeling angry growing up and feeling like he had something to prove. He learned to fight for what he had and fight to keep whatever he achieved. After all these years, Eric believes that his tough upbringing taught him to survive in show business.

In 1959, at the age of 18, Eric came to America to attend college at the University of Montana on a track and field scholarship. In the 1960s, he landed a few guest-starring roles and finally got his big break in the 70s as a series regular in Gunsmoke and Planet Of The Apes. In 1980, Braeden debuted as Victor Newman and was told it would be a short stint. He impressed CBS with his acting skills and demeanor that he landed a longer contract and has been playing Victor Newman for 36 years.

Daytime Confidential revealed that Eric will talk about his life growing up, reinventing himself (including what led to his name change), and his rise to fame to become a soap opera superstar. Amazon listed the book in the Holocaust/Jewish genre, so it’s possible the primary focus could be his humble beginnings.

Eric noted in an interview last year that, in his eyes, to slow down and consider retirement felt like a death wish. Braeden explained that he needed to participate in sports and do things that helped him express his creativity (for example, acting). Later, he admitted he realized that at some point, he’ll have to consider slowing down, but at 74, he is still able to work full-time.

“I am surrounded by young people, and it keeps me active. At 74, I can keep up with any one of people on the set,” Eric said.

Eric Braeden’s memoir, I’ll Be Damned, will be an interesting read to find out how he managed to come from nothing in a small and destroyed town in Germany to the powerhouse patriarch on The Young and the Restless. Reportedly, Braeden signed a new multi-year contract with the CBS soap opera, so he will be around for years to come.

The Young and the Restless fans, are you going to buy his book, I’ll Be Damned? Voice your opinion about Eric Braeden in the comments section below, and come back later for more juicy soap opera spoilers, news, and updates.

[Photo by PLS Pool/Getty Images]

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