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Friends and fans from around the world gathered at 7021 Hollywood Blvd today to honor German-born Eric Braeden with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Eric Braeden (66), an International Film, Television and Emmy Award winning actor, who has played the role of ruthless tycoon Victor Newman for over 27 years in the daytime drama series "The Young and the Restless," ("Y&R") is the first German actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Blvd Walk of Fame since 1960.
A STAR FOR ERIC BRAEDEN JULY 20, 2007
Braeden, born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1961 for the potential he felt existed in America. "I saw America as a land of opportunity," he recalls, "but also as the land of adventure, the land of cowboys and Indians." On the way to embarking on his acting career, he lived his American dream working as a cowboy on a ranch in Montana before heading off to Los Angeles where he has not stopped working since.
2007 marks his 46th year in film and television. He has starred with such actors as Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Burt Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, James Earl Jones, Curt Jurgens, Raquel Welch, James Arness, Jack Lord and many others.
CONGRATULATIONS, Eric Braeden! Thank you for your friendship and your support.
The German-World Magazine Team
In addition to his long running role of Victor Newman, a few of Braeden's many credits include portraying John Jacob Astor in the successful feature, "Titanic," Dr. Charles Forbin in "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and Captain Hauptmann Dietrich in the classic primetime series "The Rat Patrol".
In 1998, Braeden received an Emmy Award for his work on "Y&R" as "Outstanding Lead Actor in A Daytime Drama Series" and during the same year he was the recipient of "The People's Choice Award" as "Most Popular Actor in A Daytime Drama Series." "Y&R" is seen in over 15 foreign countries and has a world wide daily audience of 120,000,000 viewers.
Braeden, a longtime activist and humanitarian, is a true supporter of German-American friendship and has dedicated himself to promoting a positive, realistic image of Germans in the United States. As co-founder and president of the German-American Cultural Society, he is able to convey contributions Germans have made, and continue to make, in America and to foster greater awareness and understanding of German culture both past and present, as well as, advance German-Jewish dialogue in this country and elsewhere.
To the delight of the
international crowd,
Todd Lindgren, Senior
Vice President of the
Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce, introduces
and congratulates
Eric Braeden both in
English and in German!
Friends show their
support (left to right):
Former world champion
heavyweight boxer Ken
Norton, Actors James Patrick Stuart, Sean
Young and George
Kennedy, Hollywood's
Honorary Mayor Johnny
Grant and Eric Braeden.
Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles City Council Member 4th District, congratulates Eric Braeden and presents him with a gift and the official certificate.
From this day on, July 20, 2007 is declared Eric Braeden Day.
Below:
Eric Braeden proudly presents his certificate to the applauding audience.
Above / Left:
Actor George
Kennedy (Airport, Earthquake, The Naked Gun) congratulates his good friend Eric.
Kennedy stars in Braeden's new movie "The Man Who Came Back", which will be released in 2008.
Above: Eric Braeden's friends Jesse Ventura, former professional Wrestler and Governor of Minnesota, and Ken Norton, former world champion heavyweight boxer (the real Apollo Creed) attend the ceremony.
Below: Sean Young, Todd Lindgren, Jesse Ventura, Johnny Grant, Tom LaBonge and George Kennedy
Eric Braeden patiently poses for the many photographers and fans.
Eric Braeden shares the limelight with his son Christian Gudegast, a screenwriter, and his lovely wife of 41 years, his college sweetheart Dale
Above:
Jesse Ventura, George Kennedy, Y&R's Melody Thomas Scott and Tom LaBonge pose with Erc Braeden
Eric Braeden surrounded by cast members of the "Young and the Restless"
From left to right:
Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor), Don Diamont (Brad Carlton), Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Reed Newman), Heather Tom (Victoria Newman)
About the "Young and the Restless"
Emmy Award winning "The Young and the Restless" debuted in 1973. The storyline focuses on elegance, wealth, and big business. Residing in Genoa City, the players are the Abbotts, Chancellors and the Newmans!
Soap fans are invited to read in-depth daily recaps/updates, and the most up-to-date news about the actors/actresses and the show. Soaps.com offers the latest spoilers and the friendliest message boards on the net!
"The Young and the Restless" is seen by 100 million worldwide viewers everyday!
Above left: Eric Braeden with Stuntman Dick Ziker
Above: Eric with ?
Left: Eric Braeden with son Christian Gudegast and friends
Below: Eric Braeden wih German World Magazine Publisher Petra Schuermann
Ken Norton is a former world champion heavyweight boxer and one of the few to beat Muhammad Ali. In 1973, Norton fought Muhammad Ali, broke Ali's jaw and went on to win by a split decision. Norton remains unique among all heavyweight champions, as he is still the only holder of a World Heavyweight Championship to have never won a single world title fight.
The character of "Apollo Creed" in the "Rocky" movie was initially going to be played by Ken Norton, however when he pulled out, Carl Weathers was selected. Most fight fans don't remember Kenny being the real reason for the movie "Rocky". We would never have had the great movie "Rocky" without his fight with Wepner in 1970, which created the spark for Sylvester Stallone to make this fine film.
So, yes, Kenny Norton is the real Apollo Creed!
Kenny later acted in movies and popular TV series until he was injured in a car accident, which resulted in temporary brain and permanent physical damage.
Ken Norton is a 1992 inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and a 1989 inductee of the World Boxing Hall of Fame. The 1998 holiday issue of "The Ring" ranked Norton # 22 in "The 50 Greatest Heavy- weights of All Time. Norton received the Napoleon Hill Award for positive thinking and the Boxing Writers Association of America J. Niel Trophy for "Fighter of the Year" in 1977. Ken Norton was twice voted "Father of the Year" by the Los Angeles Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times. His son, Ken Norton Jr, played American football in the NFL and won three consecutive Super Bowls with his teams.
Kenny Norton and his wife Rose enjoy the romantic setting at Eric Braeden's home in Pacific Palisades.
Celebration at the Home of Eric Braeden in Pacific Palisades
The beautiful garden at the Braeden residence includes a pergola covered veranda overlooking the estates of the Kennedy, Schwarzenegger and Hanks families. Also among the Party guests: Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy).
No signs of slowing down - Even after midnight, party guests are still dancing in Eric Braeden's living room and the host himself seems to have a good time too :-) Thank you for this most memorable day!
Charles Sherman, Eric Braeden's multi-task Manager, did an
amazing job to ensure a smooth operation at every event.
Big smile from Actor George Kennedy
Eric Braeden's son Christian Gudegast with German World Magazine publisher / founder Petra Schuermann
Star Ceremony
Photographer was on assignment for "German World Magazine" - All photos taken with prof. equipment
Party
Photographer was not on assignment - All photos taken for private use with small compact camera
Tamara Sedmak with her husband Norbert Dobeleit, a television personality and retired athlete, and her girl friend.
Tamara Sedmak
Actress, Model, TV & Radio Moderator, and Miss Schweiz des TV Publikums (voted Miss Switzerland by the TV audience) in 1999/2000, currently works as a Moderator and Reporter for PREMIERE, the leading pay TV operator in Germany and Austria.
In recognition of these efforts, Braeden has twice received the Federal Medal of Honor by the President of Germany for his contribution to German American relations and has been honored with the Humanitarian Award from the government of Israel for fostering good relations between Germany and Israel.
Officiating at the ceremony was the Honorary Mayor of
Hollywood, Johnny Grant, and Todd Lindgren, Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President.
In attendance were guests of honor, the Consul General
of Germany Christian Stocks and his wife Christine, and
guest speakers actor George Kennedy, the former
Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, and Council-
member Tom LaBonge. "Y&R"co-stars Melody Thomas
Scott, Jeanne Cooper, Peter Bergman, Don Diamont,
Heather Tom and co-stars from his most recent movie -
boxing legend Ken Norton, Sean Young, Peter Jason,
James Patrick Stuart were there. As were members of
Braeden's family and the many friends and fans who
came to see him awarded the 2,342nd star on Hollywood
Boulevard. A tribute well deserved for his longtime professional achievement, career longevity and contributions to the community.
Eric Braeden has just completed executive producing and starring in the feature film, "The Man Who Came Back," a period Western set in Texas in the 1870's and scheduled to be released in 2008.
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