Home / Arts and Entertainment / On-Set Fight Fueled Y&R's Iconic Rivalry
On-Set Fight Fueled Y&R's Iconic Rivalry
24 Sep
Summary
- Two Y&R stars had a physical fight in 1991.
- Actors channeled animosity into onscreen rivalry.
- Past feud evolved into mutual respect over time.
The intense rivalry between Victor Newman and Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless was once mirrored by a real-life conflict between their actors, Eric Braeden and Peter Bergman.
When Peter Bergman joined the soap opera in 1989, taking over the role of Jack Abbott, he and Eric Braeden, who played Victor Newman, did not get along. Their friction escalated, leading to a physical fight on set in 1991.
Recognizing the detrimental effect of their animosity, the actors decided to channel their conflict into their on-screen performances. This decision resulted in some of the show's most iconic and dramatic scenes between Victor and Jack.
Over years of working together, their initial animosity transformed into a strong friendship. Both actors now look back on the incident with a different perspective, with Braeden addressing the event in his 2017 memoir, "I'll Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to America's #1 Daytime Drama." He aimed to show how overcoming such a conflict can lead to profound respect. Today, they hold immense respect for each other, acknowledging that it took time to reach that point.
