At 82, he is the patriarch of the series The Fires of Love. With a career spanning more than 60 years, the Victor Newman interpreter is a true legend. Sporty and combative, the naturalized American German has lost none of his phlegm and humor. Character traits that allow him to approach the bladder cancer he discovered a few weeks ago with optimism. He tells us about it with an open heart.
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What made you decide to talk about your cancer diagnosis?
I can help many men suffering from this disease. With age, the prostate enlarges and this affects the urethra, which no longer empties the bladder as well as it did as a young man. I’m not 50, I’m 82, so I don’t care and I’m even proud of it. It’s important to me to share my story to help other men who are struggling with the same issue but are afraid of being told they have cancer. I have a friend who had breast cancer and she made me realize the importance of staying informed. There are so many new ways to treat cancer… Mine was discovered just in time as stage 1. However, since it is a mixture of cancer cells, I have to undergo something called intravesical immunotherapy. The medicine I get contains the same bacteria that are used in vaccination against tuberculosis. Injections are given directly into the bladder to trigger an immune response and fight cancer cells. I have to undergo immunotherapy once a week for six weeks. Then I have six weeks of rest and another six weeks of treatment. Once this is over, it looks like I’ll be cancer free. Anyhow, the reason I decided to talk about this is to remove the fear and stigma surrounding this disease.
How did you react when the doctors broke the news to you?
I was like, “Shit!” I remember talking to some people who had cancer. Being athletic by nature, I like to take on challenges and courage is an important value for me. If I was told as a child that I couldn’t do it, I have only one wish: to prove me wrong!
The support of your family and friends must be important to you…
You’re very kind and empathetic, but I don’t talk much about my illness except tonight with you. And also on Facebook Live, where I speak openly about it. You know, for many, cancer has become almost a normal part of aging.
Has this experience changed your ambitions and state of mind?
I don’t care what people think of me, I’ve never acted on what people thought or said about me. I’ve always tried to be fair to others. I have listened to the experiences and testimonials of those who have been there and over time this has made me very understanding.
They shot 3970 episodes flames of love. If you had to choose one word to describe this longevity, what would it be?
Discipline. Also the happiness and satisfaction of playing a character. I love my job and always make sure to play my scenes as authentically as possible.
Did the producers change the script after the announcement of your health issue?
NO. Because we film many months in advance, it’s difficult to launch an event so suddenly. And then, just before that, I had my left knee replaced. So I recovered from this surgery and had to get up every two hours to urinate. I was eventually diagnosed with cancer. It took me longer to recover from the surgery but I still train every day and box a lot. After many years of football and sports, my knees are not as strong as they used to be.
What has been the most touching reaction from fans since the news of your cancer?
I get moving messages from fans in Canada, France, South Africa, Australia, Guinea, Israel, Romania, Bulgaria, Australia, New Zealand… Of course there are also many reactions from fans in the United States.
Do you remember that you faced an almost identical challenge as today?
To survive in this profession and to survive my childhood in post-war Germany. I was born in 1941 and survived all the bombing raids. My hometown was 96% destroyed. They dropped 500,000 bombs on my city! I too survived a difficult childhood. My father died young and we fell into misery. I survived by working on farms. The only light in my life as a kid and teenager was sports and girls. I fell in love every three weeks! Landing alone in America at the age of 18 was also a challenge. Sport saved me: it gave me a sense of tenacity. But surviving in Hollywood remains one of the hardest things.
You in particular, who have been working as actors in Hollywood since 1960, what has changed in 2023?
Real stars were few in the 1960s. I worked on a film with Marlon Brando in 1964. There were a few TV shows and I was on almost all of those shows. There were fewer opportunities to find a job. With all the new platforms, the scope has now expanded enormously. In that sense, there are more options. But in this job you’re either good or you’re not. I can tell at a glance if an actor is a swindler!
What is the first thing you want to do to forget this episode once the cancer is cured?
I’m not in that mindset. I feel very good now. I can’t wait to travel to Europe in June to see my son (Christian Gudegast) directing his film Den of Thieves 2. By the way, I had a role in the first film. Christian is a wonderful author and a very good director. He’s filming in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.
Looks like this challenge will give you even more power…
Yes. But to be honest: there are times when I get stiff knees when I wake up in the morning. I go to the bathroom… and after 5, 10 minutes I’m fine. Never give up!
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