For the past 43 years, Eric Braeden, the Daytime Emmy award-winning actor, has portrayed the ruthless yet charismatic Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless. On May 23rd, Eric made a rare appearance on LA Times Today for an interview with Lisa McRee, where he reflected on his 50 years in the business.
Playing Victor Newman, Eric explained, has unlocked a wealth of emotions for him. He shared how he has portrayed a range of personalities in the character—from the villain to a loving father, a shrewd businessman with a soft heart, and of course, a romantic lead. His ability to capture so many aspects of one character makes him a true legend in soap opera history.
During the interview, Eric also opened up about his friendship with his co-star, Lauralee Bell, the daughter of the show’s creator. He spoke warmly of her, calling her one of the kindest people he’s worked with.
However, the conversation took a more serious tone when Eric discussed his recent cancer diagnosis. He revealed that his fight against bladder cancer has given him a new purpose: to raise awareness and save lives. He’s using his platform to encourage men to take control of their health, saying, “I just want men to know not to be afraid. Get your prostate, bladder, and colon checked. Get familiar with it so that fear doesn’t control you. Many men, including myself, tend to avoid it, but that’s foolish.”
Eric is committed to spreading this vital message, urging others not to go through what he did. If you’re not familiar with his journey, here’s a quick recap: After experiencing persistent pain, Eric initially had a prostate exam, and everything seemed fine—until it wasn’t. The pain worsened, leading him to seek a second opinion, and that’s when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Thankfully, after undergoing successful surgeries, he’s feeling much better.
He still has six rounds of immunotherapy treatments to go through, three of which he has already completed. Eric mentioned that the only side effect is feeling weak on the day of treatment, but other than that, he’s doing well.
During the interview, Eric also shared some important symptoms to watch for in bladder cancer, hoping to help others be more aware and proactive about their health. His advocacy has resonated with fans and non-fans alike, earning him love, gratitude, and respect from people around the world.
And for those worried about his future on The Young and the Restless, Eric has some good news: he’s not going anywhere. He confirmed that any rumors about him leaving the show are just that—rumors. He’s still going strong and has no plans to step away anytime soon.
