Eric Braeden "Young and the Restless" / "Titanic"

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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