Trivia

Was awarded the Federal Medal of Honor by the president of Germany for promoting a "positive, realistic image of Germans in America".

Brother-in-law of Bob Crane and Sigrid Valdis.

He became a naturalized citizen while in college.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 20, 2007. Many of his Les feux de l'amour (1973) co-stars were present for the occasion.

Legal name continues to be Hans Gudegast. Although he initially resented being asked to use a non-German stage name, he has since gotten accustomed to being called Eric by new acquaintances and colleagues, while Hans is the name he uses among family and old friends.

In 1973, he had consecutive guest starring roles, as two different characters, on Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971) and Vin, vacances et vahinés (1973), which in and of itself would not seem unusual. However, both of these series starred Lee Majors, which was very unusual for the time, with one actor starring on two different active television series at the same time. The two appearances were during the same week, with Eric's first appearance on Wednesday, October 17, 1973, and his second appearance on Saturday, October 20, 1973, both shows were produced at and by Universal Studios (as Universal Television), and both series were broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC TV Network). The Six Million Dollar Man show was actually a made for TV movie that preceded the actual series.

His character Victor Newman from Les feux de l'amour (1973), over the years, has been known as the Black Knight by soap opera fans.

In the years before becoming the star of Les feux de l'amour (1973) in 1980, Braeden generally portrayed characters who were 10-15 years older than his actual age.

In addition to Commando du désert (1966) created by Tom Gries Braeden also had roles in the movie Les 100 fusils (1969), written and directed by Tom Gries and in the movie Madame Bijoux (1973), produced and directed by Tom Gries.

Was approached by Cubby Broccoli to play James Bond after Broccoli had seen him in Colossus: The Forbin Project, but after realizing Braeden was German and not British, Broccoli changed his mind.

Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book, "I Talked with a Zombie" (McFarland & Co., 2008).

Father of Christian Gudegast and uncle of Scott Crane.