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The Young and the Restless

Y&R Celebrates Eric Braeden’s 45th Anniversary As Victor

By Mara Levinsky
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Eric Braeden, Jason Thompson, Christel Khalil, melody thomas scott
Howard Wise/jpistudios.com(2)
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On Friday, February 7, the cast and crew of Young and Restless gathered together to honor Eric Braeden’s (Victor) incredible milestone with the show — the 45th anniversary of his Genoa City debut! Back in 1980, when the actor first signed on to the show, he had every intention of leaving after a few months (three “at the most,” he told Soap Opera Digest in a 2023 interview. Soap opera history was made when Braeden agreed to extend that initial contract, and over the years, he has become an icon of the show and a superstar of the genre, earning nine nominations for Outstanding Leading Actor at the Daytime Emmys (he won once, in 1998) and 12 Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1997 and 2001). He was also honored with a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a Daytime Serial in 1992. Click through the gallery to see who attended the star-studded celebration!

  1. eric braeden, melody thomas scott, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Of course, Melody Thomas Scott, Braeden's long-time leading lady, was there to show her appreciation for Braeden. As Nikki and Victor, the actors have brought one of the most celebrated supercouples in daytime history to life. In 2023, the actress admitted to Soap Opera Digest that when they were originally paired, "Eric and I were both a bit puzzled when [Co-Creator/then-Head Writer] Bill Bell started writing us in scenes together. We didn’t see the potential but Bill clearly did. Bill was great at predicting chemistry. He knew we had ‘it’ long before we did!”

  2. eric braeden, bryton james, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Bryton James (Devon) will always appreciate that Eric Braeden was his very first scene partner when he joined the show back in 2004. He recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2023, "The casting director was walking me to the stage and asked me, ‘Do you know who Eric Braeden is?’ And I said, ‘No. I have no idea.’ She said, ‘Well, just act like you do and show respect and you’ll be just fine.’ He was fantastic with me, and he always has been from day one.”

  3. eric braeden, joshua morrow, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Joshua Morrow, who has played Victor's son, Nick Newman, since 1994, posed with his on-screen dad. Morrow recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2023, "The very first time I met Eric, I had come in for some fittings before shooting and this kind of receptionist lady asked, ‘Hey, do you want to meet your dad?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ So we walked in, and Eric was sitting on his couch reading a newspaper. She said, ‘Hey, Eric, I want to introduce you to Joshua Morrow, he’s playing your son.’ I didn’t know that Nicholas was a little dude just a few months earlier, so Eric looked me up and down and said, ‘How bizarre,’ and that was it!"

  4. eric braeden, mark grossman, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    While Victor and his son Adam are frequently at odds, Braeden and Mark Grossman (Adam) get along famously. In 2021, Grossman told Soap Opera Digest, "I’m always honored when I get to work with Eric. He’s been very complimentary, which is especially nice coming from him. It means a lot to me.”

  5. eric braeden, lauralee bell, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Lauralee Bell (Christine) gave a speech at the event, representing the Bell family — it was her father, Bill, who created the character of Victor. On Instagram, she wrote, "It was such a special day celebrating @ericbraedengudegast 45th anniversary! Such love and admiration! Laughs & tears! ❤️ I teased Eric that my dad may have lived life thinking 'what would Victor do?' I think we all have at one time or another! 😊 🙌 Victor/Eric = ICON/GOAT The best of the best! Love you Eric❣️."

  6. eric braeden, michael mealor, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Not one but two of Victor's granddaughters (Summer and Claire) have fallen hard for Michael Mealor's Kyle Abbott, the son of Victor's sworn enemy, Jack Abbott. Mealor enthused to Soaps in Depth in 2018, "I really enjoy working with Eric, because every take is going to be different. You never know what he’s going to give you!”

  7. eric braeden, jason thompson, christel khalil, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Braeden got a double dose of congratulations when he was flanked by Christel Khalil (Lily) and Jason Thompson (Billy). In 2020, Thompson observed to Soap Opera Digest, "“Eric is walking history, which is great because everything about the show is all there. As a colleague and another actor, it’s always fun being in the ring with people who you admire and want to work with and [who will] be open to however a scene is going to go. That’s what I look forward to mostly because Eric is one who you can do that with. He is pro-fessional and comes fully prepared.”

  8. eric braeden, beth maitland, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Beth Maitland (Traci) was on hand to deliver remarks honoring her longtime co-star. In 2020, she told Soaps in Depth, "He is a dear, dear friend. We love each other, but we never are in scenes together unless it’s a party scene or wedding!”

  9. eric braeden, susan walters, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Diane's romantic relationship with Victor crashed and burned, but Susan Walters (Diane) and Braeden have nothing but warm feelings toward each other off camera.

  10. michelle stafford, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) also took to the podium. On Instagram, Stafford wrote, "Today we celebrated this extraordinary man. 45 years on YR. He IS a legend. Even folks who don’t watch the Young and the Restless know who he is. The great Victor Newman. This was a beautiful day. I love you Eric."

  11. christian leblanc, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Braeden's on-screen legal eagle and real-life pal, Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael) gave his own speech honoring the actor.

  12. eric braeden, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Braeden dissolved into giggles during one of the speeches! Oh, to be a fly on the wall....

  13. eric braeden, kate linder, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Kate Linder (Esther), another long-running cast member, posed with Braeden, too, and posted on Instagram, "#happy45thanniversary ❤️  @ericbraedengudegast @youngandrestlesscbs #yr51  @cbstv  #honoredtohaveworkedwithyou #forover42yearsandcounting #congratulations #victornewman"

  14. eric braeden, sean carrigan, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Sean Carrigan (ex-Ben "Stitch" Rayburn), who shares a love of boxing with sports aficionado Braeden, was also in attendance.

  15. ed scott, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Y&R Producer Ed Scott has not only worked alongside Braeden for many years, but the two men share a "wife"! In real life, Scott is married to Melody Thomas Scott.

  16. eric braeden, the young and the restless
    Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
    Braeden delivered his own speech, which was met with roars of applause from the assembled guests.
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