Credit: Priscilla Grant/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Eric Braeden has Alec Baldwin’s back. As the latter actor stands trial for involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western Rust, the Young & Restless icon takes to social media to defend him.
“I’m actually outraged that it has come to this,” says Victor’s portrayer. “I’ve been an actor since 1962. I’ve been on more sets with guns — used more guns in the various guest-starring roles I’ve played, always as the bad guy — [so I] know damn well that as actors, we are not responsible for whether the damn gun is loaded or not. The prop person comes to you. This has been the case for over 60 years for me.”
Usually, Braeden adds, the assistant director is also present when the actor is shown that the gun is unloaded. “To hold [Baldwin] responsible is simply unrealistic, totally unfair… As an actor, that’s the last thing you think about. I learned to think about it because I’ve done so many action shows, from The Rat Patrol on, Combat!, etc., etc. So only an actor who’s really used to being in action moments in films” would even be thinking about it.
Baldwin, Braeden maintains, is blameless in the tragedy. “It is incumbent upon the AD and the property person to make sure the actor has seen that the gun is not loaded, that there’s not even one bullet left,” says the Emmy winner. “Otherwise, you play Russian roulette. That has been the case for over 60 years in my career. Alec Baldwin I don’t think is used to doing a lot of action films, so he was assured when he was given the gun, I’m certain, ‘There’s no bullet in here.’ Why the hell would he otherwise take it? Are you nuts?
“So the responsibility, as far as I’m concerned, lies squarely on the AD and the armorer. End of story.”
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Braeden isn’t personally well-acquainted with Baldwin but says “I know him peripherally.” The 30 Rock Emmy winner got his start in soaps, playing Billy Aldrich on daytime’s The Doctors before moving on to primetime and Knots Landing. He and wife Hiliaria currently have in the works a TLC reality series about themselves and their seven children.
