This famous actor left his homeland to pursue the American dream and found lasting love along the way. Their love story began on college grounds and blossomed into the bright lights of Hollywood. Decades later, they’re still together.

He is one of the most recognizable faces on daytime television, a veteran actor whose career has spanned decades and whose presence has defined a long-running soap opera. And as the saying goes, behind every great man there is a great woman, and in his case, that couldn’t be more true.

His wife has been a constant presence from the beginning, offering unwavering support. From meeting in college and shaping his most iconic role to raising a family for decades in the spotlight, here’s a look at the love story that has endured behind the scenes.

A journey across continents and the beginning of a lasting love

Before fame, red carpets and a decades-long career in television, this Hollywood star was just a young man chasing a dream across the Atlantic.

Fresh out of high school, he left Germany, his native country, and set his sights on the United States. “I saw America as a land of opportunity,” he later said , “but also as the land of adventure, the land of cowboys and Indians.”

His arrival was marked by a striking moment: the Statue of Liberty emerging into the early morning light as he approached New York Harbor aboard an ocean liner. Los Angeles wasn’t his first stop, but it quickly became his home.

He had traveled there to find a distributor for a documentary he had created with a fellow student. The film, “The Riverbusters,” led to appearances on talk shows and a brief promotional tour .

When his collaborator returned to Montana, the actor stayed in Los Angeles with $500 from Johnson Motors and a promise to see what might come next. However, the early days were tough.

In 1980, this Hollywood star made a career-defining decision.

He parked cars, moved furniture, and played soccer for $10 a game. He also worked as a busboy at La Scala, a high-end restaurant. But alongside the hustle, he enrolled at Santa Monica State College to study political science, and that’s where everything changed.

He met his future wife on campus. She had attended Catholic school, was well-educated, and deeply familiar with European literature. This shared cultural background created an immediate connection. They married in 1966. However, fame had not yet arrived, and he continued to work in small roles in theater, film, and television.

But she believed in his potential and stood by him every step of the way. From the beginning, this famous actor’s wife provided him with stability. Later, they had a son who followed in his father’s footsteps in the entertainment industry.

The silent force that shaped a soap opera icon

In 1980, this Hollywood star made a career-defining decision. When he accepted the role of the calculating and complex businessman Victor Newman on the long-running daytime drama “The Young and the Restless,” he couldn’t have known that it would come to define him in the eyes of millions.

The series would become a classic for the network, and the character—ruthless and charismatic in equal measure—would dominate the storylines for decades.

But behind her polished performances was someone who offered her guidance that shaped her acting from the beginning. Early in her career, she struggled with certain storylines that seemed implausible to her.

His instinct led him to subtly convey his disbelief to the public. However, it was his wife who questioned that approach. “Make those limiting parameters a challenge instead of fighting against them,” she told him . That change of mindset changed everything. He later revealed :

“Suddenly I saw it very differently. […] It changed my attitude towards that medium, which was possibly, as an actor, the toughest medium in our business.”

Without that insight, her career could have taken a completely different turn, as the physical demands of soap operas were intense. Memorizing 10 pages of dialogue daily was commonplace; on one occasion, she even did 62. The pace was relentless.

The pace was relentless. After the first season, the famous actor was ready to quit. He didn’t like the format and had no intention of signing on again. But, once again, his wife intervened.

She saw what he couldn’t see at the time: that this role was worth committing to, despite all its challenges. She encouraged him to stay and, ultimately, to see the work as something to master rather than avoid.

She had a brief acting career, but opted for a quieter life as an interior designer and focused on supporting her husband’s career.

“She encouraged me from the very beginning in this tough business,” he said in an interview years later. “In fact, she encouraged me to sign for many years.”

That decision paid off. His performance would become one of the most enduring in the history of the genre. In 1997, he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Although he didn’t attend the ceremony, he later reflected on the people he would have thanked. His wife would have topped the list. “She has always been critically positive and encouraging. She has been extremely loyal and supportive of me since the beginning of my career,” he said .

The actor also reportedly thanked his son, as well as the writers and producers who gave him the opportunity to bring the character to life.

A love that endured in the spotlight

The Emmy-winning actor known to millions as Victor Newman from “The Young and the Restless” is none other than Eric Braeden, and the woman who has been by his side since his college days is Dale Russell, his wife of more than 50 years and the person he calls his greatest support.

Although she has largely remained out of the spotlight, her influence has been constant. She had a brief acting career , but opted for a quieter life as an interior designer and focused on supporting her husband’s career.

“Because Dale is so private, people don’t realize how much she influences what I do or don’t do,” the Hollywood star explained . “I make many decisions only after consulting her. She has been a calming and supportive influence in my life.”

That influence extended beyond his work on screen. Over the years, the actor was frequently asked to write his memoirs , but he always resisted. It was his wife who finally pushed him to take it seriously.

Together they raised their son, Christian Gudegast, now a successful producer, writer, and director.

Regarding their long-lasting relationship, when asked about the secret to their happy marriage, Braeden offered a thoughtful answer that reflected decades of shared history. “Falling in love is the first part, but you also have to like the person,” she said .

“That means you like who she is, you like being with her. You like talking to her. Obviously, you share the most extraordinary things in life with them,” the actor noted .

He also acknowledged that the initial excitement of being in love eventually settles into something deeper, and for a marriage to last, that deeper connection has to be real.

“Do I basically respect the person for who they are?” he said . “That only comes out in certain life situations, or when political decisions have to be made or there are certain events in the news; then you get to know the person.”

Together they raised their son, Christian Gudegast, now a successful producer, writer, and director . In 2021, Braeden described him as “possibly the greatest gift of my life and always has been,” adding, “We talk to each other almost every night.”

In 2020, the couple had three grandchildren. “I adore them,” the actor said . “Nothing makes me happier than seeing them.”

Throughout it all—more than 50 years of marriage, a legendary television role, and a life filled with personal and professional triumphs—he has remained deeply grateful. The actor revealed :

“I am deeply grateful to have worked with such magnificent colleagues over the years and to have had such great support from my family, from my wife.”

That support became especially important when she faced one of the toughest battles of her life. On April 21, 2023, Braeden, then 82, took to social media and revealed heartbreaking news while maintaining her composure.

During a Facebook Live video session, he updated his fans on his knee replacement surgery and said he was recovering well. But what he said next was deeply shocking: the German-born television icon revealed his cancer diagnosis .

Braeden, whose immunotherapy sessions reportedly helped him continue acting on “The Young and the Restless,” said he hated discussing personal matters . However, he urged people to watch his video to the end, especially older men, as it might have helped them.

The television star maintained her composure as she recounted her story. Braeden said she discovered she had cancer after seeking medical help for prostate problems.

The daytime television legend said he was urinating frequently, after which he visited his doctor. He stated that he was then catheterized and told that a bladder treatment procedure might help improve things.

However, the actor found himself in a Los Angeles hospital after having his original catheter removed, claiming he was unable to urinate. Apparently, the older actor was treated by a Vietnamese doctor who learned to speak English by watching his soap opera after moving to the United States.

But that wasn’t all the doctor shared: he also gave Braeden the heartbreaking news of his cancer diagnosis. The Emmy-winning actor said he had been found to have high-grade cancer cells near his bladder while seeing his doctors for prostate problems.

Braeden explained that he also underwent a UroLift procedure and was advised to undergo six weeks of immunotherapy. The actor stated that he has slowed down his exercise regimen since then.

While confessing how he had begun to listen more to his body and be in tune with himself, Braeden said, “So if you’ve seen me a little under the weather, yes, I have been… I’ll be back in top form soon.”

Despite this, the Hollywood star has shown no signs of slowing down in recent years. She continues to find joy in her work, her relationships, and her daily routines. “I love my life,” she says . “So, do I see myself retiring anytime soon? Of course not.”

As for his wife, the actor has never stopped admiring her. “My wife is beautiful,” he said . “She’s a forgiving and understanding woman, and a wonderful mother to our son, Christian.” Together, Braeden and Russell have built a life anchored in love and support.