Dale Russell Gudegast is best known as the wife of actor Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless. Dale has also appeared on screen herself, with a small role in the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun.
Dale Russell Gudegast and Eric met in the 1960s and married in 1966. They have one son, filmmaker Christian Gudegast, and are also grandparents.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dale Suzanne Russell |
| Known as | Dale Russell Gudegast |
| Date of birth | November 17, 1941 |
| Age | 84 as of September 2026 |
| Reported birthplace | Bakersfield, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Being Eric Braeden’s wife |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known film | Holiday in the Sun |
| Husband | Eric Braeden |
| Marriage date | October 8, 1966 |
| Son | Christian Gudegast |
| Sister | Sigrid Valdis |
| Grandchildren | Three reported |
| Reported residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life
Dale Suzanne Russell was born on November 17, 1941.
Most available sources list Bakersfield, California, as her birthplace. However, one source also gives Los Angeles, so her exact birthplace is not completely clear.
Very little is publicly known about her parents or childhood.
Her Sister Sigrid Valdis
Dale Russell Gudegast had a sister named Sigrid Valdis, who was also an actress.
Sigrid worked in television and film. She died on October 14, 2007, at age 72. Reports say she died from lung cancer in Anaheim, California.
Dale is also reported to be the aunt of Scott Crane.
Education
Dale reportedly attended a private school in Los Angeles, California.
Some sources say she completed high school but did not attend college. The name of her school has not been publicly established.
Acting Career
Dale is often described as an actress, although her documented acting work is limited.
Her best-known screen credit is the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun. She reportedly played a chauffeur.
The movie was directed by Steve Purcell and starred Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen.
No other major acting roles are clearly documented in the available information. For this reason, it would be inaccurate to describe Dale as having a large film or television career.
Was Dale Writing a Book?
Some biography sources have reported that Dale was working on a book about her marriage and personal life.
However, there is no clear information about a book title, publisher, or release date.
There is also no reliable information showing that the reported book was published.
How Dale Met Eric Braeden
Dale and Eric Braeden reportedly met in 1964.
Several sources say they met while Eric was working on the television series Combat!. They became friends and later started dating.
The couple married about two years after they first met.
Marriage to Eric Braeden
Dale Russell Gudegast and Eric Braeden married on October 8, 1966.
Reports say they had a small wedding attended by close friends and family.
Their marriage has lasted for decades. Based on their reported wedding date, their 60th wedding anniversary falls on October 8, 2026.
Dale Russell Gudegast has also accompanied Eric to public entertainment events, including a CBS Daytime event at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills.
Who Is Eric Braeden?
Eric Braeden is a German-American actor. He was born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany.
He is best known for playing Victor Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. He has played the character for decades.
Eric also played Hans Dietrich in the television series The Rat Patrol and has appeared in many other film and television projects.
Although he uses Eric Braeden professionally, his birth surname is Gudegast. This explains why Dale is known as Dale Russell Gudegast.
Their Son Christian Gudegast
Dale and Eric have one son, Christian Gudegast, who was born on February 9, 1970.
Christian also works in entertainment, but mainly behind the camera. He has worked as a screenwriter, producer, and director.
One supplied source says he graduated from film school in 1992, although it does not identify the school.
Dale and Eric are also reported to have three granddaughters.
Dale Russell Gudegast and Melody Thomas Scott
Dale Russell Gudegast and Melody Thomas Scott are not the same person.
Dale Russell Gudegast is Eric Braeden’s real-life wife.
Melody Thomas Scott is the actress who plays Nikki Newman, the longtime wife of Eric’s character Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless.
This connection sometimes causes confusion because Eric and Melody have played an on-screen couple for many years.
Where Does Dale Live?
Dale and Eric have been reported to live in Los Angeles, California.
Some biography sources say they own a 5,674-square-foot home that has been valued at around $4.5 million.
The exact current value of the property is not confirmed and may have changed.
Social Media
Dale Russell Gudegast does not appear to have a widely verified public social media presence.
Some older biography articles connect social media posts with her, but the accounts and details are not clear enough to identify an official account with confidence.
Net Worth
Dale Russell Gudegast’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Biography websites give estimates ranging from about $100,000 to $800,000. These figures conflict with each other and are not supported by verified financial records.
Claims that she earns around $100,000 per year are also not supported by reliable evidence.
Interesting Facts
- Her full name is Dale Suzanne Russell.
- She was born on November 17, 1941.
- Bakersfield, California, is her most commonly reported birthplace.
- Her sister was actress Sigrid Valdis.
- Dale has one known film role in Holiday in the Sun.
- She reportedly met Eric Braeden in 1964.
- Dale and Eric married on October 8, 1966.
- Eric Braeden was born Hans Gudegast.
- Their only son is filmmaker Christian Gudegast.
- Christian was born on February 9, 1970.
- Dale and Eric are reported to have three granddaughters.
- Dale is not the same person as Melody Thomas Scott.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
- She has kept much of her personal life private.
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