If you’ve ever spent a weekday afternoon watching The Young and the Restless, you know Victor Newman. He is the mustache-wearing, deep-voiced titan of Genoa City who has been married, divorced, and remarried more times than most people change their oil. But in the real world? Eric Braeden is the polar opposite of a soap opera playboy. He’s been with the same woman for nearly sixty years. It’s kinda wild when you think about it.
While Victor is busy fighting with Nikki or Jack Abbott, Braeden is living a much quieter, deeply devoted life. So, who is Eric Braeden’s real life wife? Her name is Dale Russell Gudegast. Honestly, she’s the secret weapon behind the man who has defined daytime TV since 1980.
The College Love Story You Didn't Expect
They didn’t meet at a glitzy Hollywood party or on a movie set. Nope. They met as students at Santa Monica College in the early 1960s. At the time, Braeden (born Hans-Jörg Gudegast) was a German immigrant studying economics and philosophy. Dale was an art major.
Braeden has often talked about how Dale’s education and background pulled him in. She went to a Catholic school and was "steeped in European literature." For a guy who grew up in post-WWII Germany, that shared intellectual affinity was basically everything. They weren't just two kids dating; they were building a foundation.
They tied the knot in October 1966. That’s long before Victor Newman was even a glimmer in a scriptwriter's eye.
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Who Exactly is Dale Russell Gudegast?
Dale isn't just "the wife." She had her own taste of the spotlight, though she clearly prefers the shade. She was born in Los Angeles in 1941, and if her name sounds familiar to old-school TV fans, it might be because of her sister. Dale’s sister was Sigrid Valdis, the actress who played Hilda on Hogan's Heroes.
Dale did some acting herself, most notably appearing in the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun. Remember the Olsen twins movies? Yeah, she was in one of those. But her real passion turned out to be interior design and pillow design. She’s famously private. You won't see her chasing TikTok trends or posting "get ready with me" videos. Braeden has said that she is the "calming influence" he needs.
He’s an alpha male. He’s intense. He admits it. Dale is the one who balances that energy.
The 2025 Fire and the Strength of Their Bond
Life hasn't been all red carpets and Emmys. Recently, the couple faced a massive personal blow. In early 2025, their long-time home in the Pacific Palisades—where they’d lived for over 45 years—was destroyed in the Los Angeles fires.
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Braeden spoke about the heartbreak of looking through the ashes. He recalled sitting with Dale and their granddaughter just before Christmas in that house, having deep conversations about travels and life. Losing a home after nearly half a century is enough to break anyone, but these two seem to just lean into each other harder when things get tough.
Why Their Marriage Actually Lasts
People always ask Braeden for the "secret sauce." Is it luck? Is it just staying busy? He’s pretty blunt about it. It’s about acceptance, not just tolerance. He once told Fox News that the enduring thing is "really liking and respecting the person."
- They talk every night.
- He consults her on almost every major career move.
- They share a deep love for their son, Christian, and their three granddaughters.
Facing Health Battles Together
When Braeden was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023, the world was shocked. He met it head-on, but he was also honest about the toll it took on their marriage. He admitted that being in a "sh--ty mood" from the treatments meant sometimes taking it out on the person closest to him.
But Dale stayed. She was patient. She was the anchor while he went through the BCG treatments and eventually became cancer-free.
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Today, in early 2026, Braeden is still going strong. He’s 84 and still refuses to retire. Why would he? He’s got the job he loves and the woman he’s loved since he was a college student in Santa Monica.
What You Should Take Away
Most celebrity marriages are measured in months, not decades. The story of Eric Braeden and Dale Russell Gudegast is a rare example of Hollywood loyalty. If you want a relationship that lasts, take a page out of their book: find someone who shares your interests, respect their privacy, and actually like talking to them at the end of the day.
If you’re a fan of the show, you can appreciate the work even more knowing the "real" Victor Newman is a one-woman man who values his family above everything else.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Eric Braeden’s autobiography, I’ll Be Damned, where he goes into even more detail about his early years with Dale.
- Follow his social media for rare, sweet glimpses of him spending time with his granddaughters, Tatiana, Oksana, and Angelika.