Here’s Why Eric Braeden Nearly Left Young and the Restless After One Year

Eric Braeden wasn’t meant to be a permanent fixture on The Young and the Restless. When he first joined the soap, he understood that it was supposed to be a short stint. Eventually, his character, Victor Newman, became the cornerstone. Braeden can’t imagine his life without the soap. But there was a time when he left the show after his first year. He thinks it was one of the biggest mistakes in his career.

Y&R Without Victor?

It’s hard to believe, but the soap started without Victor. It could’ve carried on without him as well. Braeden almost considered leaving the show after one year. In an interview with TV Insider, he said he was hesitant about extending his contract.

“After about a year, I really didn’t want to continue, and I went to Bill [William J. Bell] and said, ‘Bill, unless you ascribe a background to this character that justifies who he is or explains who he is, I don’t want to play bad guys anymore. I’ve done it for too many years on nighttime, and I’m burned out. It’s dehumanizing. I can’t do it anymore,'” Braeden recalled their conversation. 

The legend didn’t want to be typecast, so Bell devised a “brilliant storyline” for his character. Braeden couldn’t help but fall in love with Victor’s backstory. Suddenly, he’s not just another bad guy; he’s a complex man who loves his family and would do anything for them.

READ THIS: Melissa Ordway is off contract as Abby at Y&R.

Once Braeden learned more about Victor’s background, he said, “I’m staying.” He was drawn to Victor’s “complexity.” He has no intentions of walking away from the character and made it clear that he has no intentions of retiring. (Read More About Braeden’s Thoughts On Retirement.)

“And that’s why I’m still here because you don’t get that kind of character, certainly not on nighttime,” Braeden said.

He would’ve walked away if he couldn’t dig deep into his character. He didn’t want to play another villain like he often did on primetime television. This role was a stroke of genius because it worked out in his favor. Braeden has been on Y&R for 44 years and will continue to take on the legacy character.