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Eric Braeden
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I'll Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to America's #1 Daytime Drama Kindle Edition

by Eric Braeden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,652 ratings
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Eric Braeden, Emmy Award-winning star of The Young and The Restless, chronicles his amazing life as a famous actor and selfless humanitarian.

For more than four decades, fans have welcomed the star of television’s number-one daytime show, The Young and the Restless, into their living rooms. While they’ve come to know and love the suave Victor Newman, few truly know the man behind the character, the supremely talented Eric Braeden. I’ll Be Damned is his story—a startling and uplifting true tale of war, deprivation, determination, fame, and social commitment that spans from Nazi Germany to modern Hollywood.

Braeden’s journey from a hospital basement in Kiel to the soundstages of Los Angeles has taught him more about joy, heartbreak, fear, dignity, loss, love, loneliness, exhilaration, courage, persecution, and profound responsibility to the global community than he could have hoped to learn in several lifetimes. Growing up in the years after Germany’s World War II defeat, Braeden knew very little about the atrocities of his parents’ generation, until he arrived in America as a teenager—a discovery that horrified and transformed him. Trying to redress the wrongs of his homeland, he has dedicated his life to humanitarian work—even forming the German American Culture Society—working for decades to show the world that what we share as humans is far more important than what separates us from one another.

Told with openness, candor, humor, heart, and occasional raw vulnerability, I’ll Be Damned reveals a man committed to making the world a better, more loving place, and is an inspiring testament to the goodness within us all.

Includes Photographs
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  1. Print length
    281 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Dey Street Books
  5. Publication date
    February 7, 2017
  6. File size
    11900 KB
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

For nearly four decades, fans have welcomed the star of television’s number one daytime show, The Young and the Restless, into their living rooms. While they’ve come to know and love the suave Victor Newman, few truly know the man behind the character, the supremely talented Eric Braeden. Now, in his first book, Eric shares the story of his life—a startling and uplifting tale of war, deprivation, determination, fame, and social commitment that spans from Nazi Germany to modern Hollywood. 

Braeden’s journey from a hospital basement in Kiel to the sound stages of Los Angeles has taught him more about joy, heartbreak, fear, dignity, loss, love, loneliness, exhilaration, courage, persecution, and profound responsibility to the global community than he could have hoped to learn in several lifetimes. Growing up in the years after Germany’s defeat, Braeden knew very little about the atrocities of his parents’ generation until he arrived in America as a teenager—a discovery that horrified and transformed him. Trying to redress the wrongs of his homeland, he has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes—even forming the German American Culture Society—working for decades to show the world that what we share as humans is far more important than what separates us from one another. 

Told with openness, humor, heart, and raw vulnerability, I’ll Be Damned reveals a man committed to making the world a better, more loving place. Filled with sixteen pages of photographs from Braeden’s decorated life and career, I’ll Be Damned is a cherished keepsake for his fans and an inspiring testament to the goodness within us all. 

About the Author

Since February 2, 1980, ERIC BRAEDEN has starred in the iconic television series The Young and the Restless, winning a Daytime Emmy for his role as the complex self-made billionaire Victor Newman. He has many other television credits to his name, and has starred in films, in numerous theater productions, including Shakespeare recitals, and on Broadway. Braeden has won two national championships in two different sports: In 1958, he won the German Youth Team Championship in Discus, Javelin, and Shot Put, and in 1973, he won the U.S. National Soccer Championship with the Los Angeles Maccabees.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FQQGYYI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dey Street Books (February 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 11900 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 281 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,652 ratings

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Eric Braeden

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
1,652 global ratings
It was a true and honest story l
5 Stars
It was a true and honest story l
I love the Young and Restless.I also loved the book about Eric Braeden.
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Top reviews from the United States

Linnie
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, informative, at times amusing and even at times surprising A WONDERFUL READ .......
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excellent, informative, at times amusing and even surprising! Having watched this show from it's very first episode, I truly appreciated E.B.'s incites and honest accounts. I loved this book and I came away with a deep affection for this man....
2 people found this helpful
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Sue Inman
5.0 out of 5 stars Victor Newman
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2023
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I have watched you play this role since the very beginning and I still adore you, the self made man you are on set and the real you in life. You have come a long way baby😂! The book is beautifully written! I will say you have a beautiful wife and son, and most of all the grand babies! At my house every thing stops when ( my show comes on ) as my daughters say! I enjoyed reading about your life!
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SGW
5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Honest Actor's Autobiography
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2017
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My mother has watched Y&R my entire life, so she was very excited when she found out about Eric Braeden's autobiography. I ordered it for her, she read it cover to cover and loved it. When I came to visit, she insisted I read it. I've always enjoyed Braeden on Y&R and I am a HUGE fan of Colossus: The Forbin Project, so I gave it a try. This is an EXCELLENT actor's autobiography. I've read other autobiographies (such as Michael Caine's, another favorite actor) and been disappointed. Braeden doesn't pull punches here; this isn't a feel-good "every movie I've done is amazing, every actor I've met in my entire life is my best friend" book. He's honest about the kind of person he is, how he reacts to others for good or for bad, he has thoughtful insights about his native country and its past. He also attentively details the crazy plot machinations of Y&R, which is both interesting and hiliarious. And, there are numerous photos from his career and life. It was lovely to see a smiling and laughing Braeden with his family, as Victor Newman tends to mainly glower. If you admire Braeden's work from Rat Patrol, Colossus, Titanic, Planet of the Apes, and, obviously The Young and the Restless, read this book!
25 people found this helpful
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Patricia A Good
4.0 out of 5 stars The King of Soaps
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
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I found this book to be very interesting. I have watched "The Young and the Restless" since it began. Eric Braeden plays the part of Victor Newman on the show and you find yourself loving him and hating him. I have always been curious about his real life and "I'll Be Damned" satisfied my curiosity. Although I already knew Eric was German, I had no idea how he lived his childhood and younger years. He is an excellent actor and has played many parts with other actors and actresses. This book was very enlightening and held my interest. I have shared the book with my sister who also follows "The Young and the Restless." If you like the show, you will definitely find the book interesting. Eric Braeden often uses the expression "I'll be damned", even on the show!
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks Hans... Eric... Victor
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2017
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I started following the Young and the Restless show with Delia to enjoy her reasons for watching something so religiously. We both have so few free personal minutes to relax. She is a executive assistant and is the care taker and administrator her sick brother's affairs. He had throat cancer and several strokes over the last recent years. I come from a science and engineering background, and like De, I just buried my mother who I cared for and handled her affairs for the past 10 years. Mom and Dad were WWII Vets and just good small town folks. Mom lived to 92 with alzheismersthe last ten. My Dad was from German-Dutch ancestorage and was proud of his heritage, but joined the US Navy in June 1940 to fight the Nazi killing machine driven by the sick bastard Hitler. So I was very pleased to find out the many convictions and motivations that Eric so strongly and sincerely laid out openingly in his book my family did, and I do, avowel. The Book by Eric "I'll Be Damned" is so much more than I expected, and a wonderful trip of life's memories with an unique and inspiring narrator, Hans... Eric... Victor.
2 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Love my Victor!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
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Love "Victor Newman! Great read for all Young & Restless fans!!
One person found this helpful
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Francie Nolan
5.0 out of 5 stars Young and Restless Fans Will Love This
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a well-written and enjoyable celebrity memoir.

His early life was interesting, especially his oblivion (so young) to Hitler and what it all meant. And as for how he ended up in show biz, that had Grand Design written all over it. I had no idea he guess-starred on so many series in the golden age of television.

Of course, as a fan of Y&R, my favorite part of the book was all about the show. I actually laughed out loud on those pages he pointed out a few of the absurdities of the storyline, as in the security on Victor Newman's ranch. My husband and I have always joked about it. Not only can anyone get by Security, but in particular the villains have no problem. I also loved how much he enjoys working with certain actors. [Bring back Ian! And Adam!!! (The one who got the Prime Time show. Geez, was he good.)]

Although he briefly goes into areas of his life I'm not as interested in re: political stuff (which is all laudable--he's fantastic fighting for civil rights and against racism), it doesn't take away from the whole and is certainly very important to who he is.

He is super honest. He also seems to have had instances of poor impulse control, like when he put some guy in ICU. Eric could've gone to prison for life if the guy died. Would that have been worth it?

I'm only here to judge the book as a memoir, though, not his character.

Highly Recommended
4 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and amusing
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023
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I was surprisingly happy with his book. He talks of his tumultuous childhood and his gradual climb to fame as a soap opera icon. If you're a fan you will love it !
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Man, Interesting Life
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2021
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Wife and Daughter had dinner with him in Niagara Falls on one of his Tours. They said he was very nice, interesting life as it seem The Young and The Restless was based on his true history as far as being from another country and adopted and he had to make a name for himself as he grew with no local (distant) families. Incredible man and Incredible Story. A Must Read!
One person found this helpful
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Harley
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Reviewed in France on December 28, 2022
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I’m so happy of my new book. A book just perfect, really interesting. I’m so fan.
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Irene Lage
5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing read!
Reviewed in Germany on January 16, 2018
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An intriguing and very authentic sounding biography. I could hardy put the book down because it was such an interesting and enjoyable read - not only about Eric Braeden himself but also about the entire film and TV industry.
One person found this helpful
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deborah bruet
5.0 out of 5 stars interessante
Reviewed in Italy on June 11, 2018
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arrivato in perfette condizioni, essendo in versione originale ancora cogli tutte le sfumature della lingua e delle espressioni. Autobiografia interessante, ma essendo una fan scatenata di Eric e della fiction nella quale è protagonista, non sono forse molto obbiettiva
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Tino Dittrich
4.0 out of 5 stars Eine packende Zeitreise, die vom Nachkriegsdeutschland bis nach Amerika führt
Reviewed in Germany on March 20, 2022
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Ich habe mir die Biografie von Hans Jörg Gudegast gekauft, weil mich die Person schon immer interessiert hat. Schließlich ist er ein Schauspieler, der es schon ganz früh in Hollywood geschafft hat. Doch das Bemerkenswerte eben, hier in Deutschland immer noch fast unbekannt ist.

Die Lebensgeschichte von Eric Braeden ist absolut lesenswert. Geboren während des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Aufgewachsen im Nachkriegsdeutschland. Es wird nichts geschönt in dieser Biografie. Es ist eine Zeitreise und dazu hält uns der Autor auch den Spiegel vor die Augen. Die Biografie lädt zum intensiven Nachdenken ein. Wie sich Herr Gudegast (=Eric Braeden) mit der deutschen Vergangenheit auseinandersetzt, verdient vollen Respekt.

In Amerika angekommen, dann die Wanderjahre. Aber nie vergisst er dabei seine Wurzeln und Herkunft. Auch wenn im Laufe der Zeit aus Hans Jörg Gudegast eben Eric Braeden wird, der Schauspieler und Star der TV-Serie "The Young and the Restless". Dabei immer an seiner Seite, seine Frau Dale und sein Sohn Christian.

Mit Eric Braeden lernt man auch das Amerika nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg bis jetzt kennen. Das ist das Gute an dem Buch, es verbindet die "Neue" und "Alte" Welt in einer Biografie.

Und ich hoffe darauf, dass es noch eine Fortsetzung geben wird.
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Tino Dittrich
4.0 out of 5 stars Eine packende Zeitreise, die vom Nachkriegsdeutschland bis nach Amerika führt
Reviewed in Germany on March 20, 2022
Ich habe mir die Biografie von Hans Jörg Gudegast gekauft, weil mich die Person schon immer interessiert hat. Schließlich ist er ein Schauspieler, der es schon ganz früh in Hollywood geschafft hat. Doch das Bemerkenswerte eben, hier in Deutschland immer noch fast unbekannt ist.

Die Lebensgeschichte von Eric Braeden ist absolut lesenswert. Geboren während des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Aufgewachsen im Nachkriegsdeutschland. Es wird nichts geschönt in dieser Biografie. Es ist eine Zeitreise und dazu hält uns der Autor auch den Spiegel vor die Augen. Die Biografie lädt zum intensiven Nachdenken ein. Wie sich Herr Gudegast (=Eric Braeden) mit der deutschen Vergangenheit auseinandersetzt, verdient vollen Respekt.

In Amerika angekommen, dann die Wanderjahre. Aber nie vergisst er dabei seine Wurzeln und Herkunft. Auch wenn im Laufe der Zeit aus Hans Jörg Gudegast eben Eric Braeden wird, der Schauspieler und Star der TV-Serie "The Young and the Restless". Dabei immer an seiner Seite, seine Frau Dale und sein Sohn Christian.

Mit Eric Braeden lernt man auch das Amerika nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg bis jetzt kennen. Das ist das Gute an dem Buch, es verbindet die "Neue" und "Alte" Welt in einer Biografie.

Und ich hoffe darauf, dass es noch eine Fortsetzung geben wird.
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