Sharon Case (Sharon): "I will never forget when I first started working here how you immediately made me feel like I was part of the family. You've always showed me so much support, and you have given me your friendship, which has just meant the world to me. You've protected me and have been a wonderful man to work with. It has been my pleasure. Happy Anniversary!"

Joshua Morrow (Nicholas): "Almost 11 years ago, I got lucky to be cast as your son. It has been an honor to be a part of your family on the show.... You've been an incredible mentor to me."

Excerpted from a letter by Heather Tom (ex-Victoria; now Kelly, OLTL): "He was my dad for 13 years and I couldn't have asked for a better role model. Eric was the first person I worked with when I started on Y&R and it was definitely a trial by fire. Eric forces you to jump in with both feet. He gives you no choice but to listen and compels you to invest yourself emotionally in the scene. He continuously raises the bar on his own work, and that has always made me want to do better .... I cannot express how happy I am that the end of my time here has not meant the end of our relationship. It is obvious that he loves what he does.... I'm proud to call him my friend."

Kristoff St. John (Neil): (He composed a poem: See: An Ode to Eric Braeden

Bill Maher, host of POLITICALLY INCORRECT and HBO's REAL TIME: "Look at this son of a bitch. Look at how great he looks. You know he's like 85. I didn't want to ask what he did during the war. That doesn't matter. His family made toys. That's what's important. Look at this guy. He looks immaculate. He gets better looking with age. I hate him. When I was a kid watching Eric on THE RAT PATROL, he made me root for the Germans. I'm not kidding. He was that cool. I was like, 'I want to be on that side.' That guy has it, and he still does."

Kay Alden, head writer: "I know I speak for the entire company when I tell you what a gift you have given us.... It was interesting that Bill Maher would say,'That guy has it,' because I was with Bill Bell the day we saw your tape and that's exactly what he said."

Jack Smith, executive producer/head writer: "This man cares about his character so much, so passionately that when we sit down to write Victor Newman, we care about Victor Newman almost as much as he does.... For years we have been inspired by what we've seen him do with our words. He's a character we all take great joy in writing, and I thank you for that, Eric."

Esther Williams, film star: "I go back further than anybody else [with Eric]. I go back to the set of 100 RIFLES and I was married to, what was his name [laughs]? Fernando Lamas. He loved you. You played a hell of a game of tennis.... I was still swimming when you started.... But I came [here today] for the hug."

Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki): "Good choice writing your journal in German. You can imagine my disappointment.... During taping, we are rolling and Eric will look at me and wordlessly invite me to join him in unscripted territory, with the writers' essence, to a spontaneous world that can only be called magic. I thank you for 25 years of moments like that."