Eric Roberts, a seasoned actor with a successful career, has long been overshadowed by his younger sister, Julia Roberts, one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses. While both siblings have attained individual prominence, their relationship has had its ups and downs. Did you know that Eric lacks the authority to mention Julia’s name in interviews?

Eric Roberts, 68, and Julia Roberts, 58, have a nearly decade-long age disparity. The siblings, born in 1956 and 1965, were nurtured by the same parents and went on to have successful careers as actors. Eric Roberts, born in 1956, began his acting career in the 1970s and immediately climbed to recognition as a leading actor with his performance in King of the Gypsies (1978). His most prominent parts were in The Dark Knight and The Expendables.

Meanwhile, Julia’s career has been marked by remarkable performances in legendary films like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, and Erin Brockovich, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Their relationship hasn’t always gone well. A terrible cocaine addiction destroyed his once-promising career, and standing in Julia’s shadow was certainly not easy. “Julia and I have always been fine,” Eric claimed in 2022, adding:

“I recall conducting a publicity tour for a movie many years ago. It was right after Pretty Woman’s release, so they were asking a lot of questions about Julia. And I said, “Excuse me. “Can we talk about me?”

Eric Roberts lied about the infamous vehicle collision.
Although Eric has frequently expressed favorable feelings about his connection with Julia and their other sister, Lisa, it is apparent that his substance misuse generated tension between them.

Eric Roberts’ battles with substance misuse have a long history, and they almost cost him his life. There has been widespread discussion about one particularly infamous incident from 1981. A frightening vehicle accident left Eric “in a coma for three days.” He was ultimately released from the hospital a month later, but the narrative of the tragedy had not ended.

Eric stated that he was driving a doorless Jeep with his girlfriend’s puppy in the passenger seat. When the dog “leaned out too far,” he lunged for it, lost control of the wheel, and slammed into a tree.

However, that was not the complete truth. Decades later, Eric revealed he had left out an important detail: he was high on cocaine at the time.

Eric Roberts’ journey to rehabilitation was not easy. He experienced obstacles along the road, including a significant relapse. In 1987, he was arrested for narcotics possession, harassment of a lady, and assault on a police officer.

The arrest came after Eric, who was under the influence, went up to a woman’s house—someone he met at a party the previous year—and began knocking on her door.

The issues did not end there. Eight years later, Roberts found himself in legal problems again, this time for an incident with his wife, Eliza. During a violent altercation, Eliza contacted 911, and the police stated that Eric had shoved her, forcing her head to hit the wall. However, Eric and his wife later denied any physical abuse occurred, leaving the circumstances of the incident unclear.

I have a relationship with Julia Roberts.
Although Eric has frequently expressed favorable feelings about his connection with Julia and their other sister, Lisa, it is apparent that his substance misuse generated tension between them.

Eric stated that his behavior during those years of substance addiction—characterizing himself as “exhaustive to be around”—contributed significantly to the siblings’ estrangement.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a falling out. I was passionate about my sisters. Loved and cherished them.” They were precious to me, and we had times of tremendous closeness,” Eric told Vanity Fair, adding:

“I was exhausting to be around: complaining, blaming, and unable to appreciate anything. Everyone in my universe, even Julia, needed a vacation from time to time.

His mother was “dead” for him.
However, a traumatic upbringing in the early 1970s may have contributed to Eric Roberts’ troubled connection with his sisters. Eric’s parents, Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts, were performers and writers, but their marriage fell apart when Betty Lou filed for divorce in 1971.

The divorce was completed in early 1972. Following their split, Eric remained in Atlanta with his father, while his sisters, Julia and Lisa, relocated to Smyrna, a small town near Atlanta, with their mother.

After the divorce, the family’s finances deteriorated, and everything appeared to fall apart. Julia was four years old when her parents split, and Eric was sixteen.

“My mother worked as a secretary. My father sold vacuum cleaners. I lived with my mother. “We saw Dad during the holidays,” Julia Roberts told the Boston Globe.

Eric’s memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, explores terrible recollections from his youth. He accepts that his actions at the time had a significant impact on his relationships with Julia and Lisa.

He remembers a period when his thoughtless comments had a long impact on his sisters: “I’m only now beginning to realize the impact it must have had on Julie and Lisa, who were 11 and 13 years old, living with our mom but hearing their big brother… saying in public that their mom is dead.”

Today, Eric accepts full responsibility for the pressure on his family, confessing that he drew both of his younger sisters into his terrible life of addiction. Over time, he confessed that the commotion had fatigued them, and they eventually determined that dealing with him was not worth the effort.

Reunion with Julia.
Fortunately, a surprise invitation to the hospital in 2004 was the catalyst for the siblings’ reconnection. Julia reconciled with her family after giving birth to her twins, Phinnaeus and Hazel, in November of that year. Julia and her husband, Danny Moder, also had a younger son, Henry Daniel, in 2007.

Despite the difficulties, Eric Roberts appears to have a strong affection for both of his sisters. He also humorously took credit for establishing his celebrity sister’s career, adding, “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that.”

However, the joke did include some truth. Julia would visit her brother in New York as a teenager, and she even had the opportunity to work on some of his films, including The Pope of Greenwich Village and Star 1980.

Eric, who was already a well-known actor when Julia began her career, made certain that she met the appropriate people early on.

“When Julia first came to New York, I went into William Morris, and I said, ‘Which one of you is going to sign my sister Julia?'” Julia has recognized that her brother played an influence in her career, but she preferred to forge her own path and avoid becoming too closely identified with Eric.

After vacation, all of my friends would return from Florida with a beautiful tan, while I would return with the knowledge that I had met all of these individuals. Still, I didn’t want it to appear as if I was only doing it for Eric,” Julia explained.

Eric Roberts’ daughter is an actor.
The Roberts family’s ability does not end with Julia and Eric. Emma Roberts, Eric’s daughter, has created a reputation for herself with spectacular performances in films such as We’re the Millers and the popular television series American Horror Story.

Just as his sister Julia has often overshadowed Eric, his daughter Emma has also faced the burden of her father’s heritage. During the height of Eric’s drug addiction, he lost contact with Emma, leaving his ex, Kelly Cunningham, to care for their daughter.

“Of course, the most serious consequence of my drug use was losing Emma,” Eric said, reflecting on the agony of being separated from his daughter when she was just a newborn.

Julia, knowing the gravity of Eric’s addiction, supported Cunningham at the time. Eric now recognizes that it was the best option for everyone.

Meanwhile, her father’s troubles have damaged Emma’s career. “I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained from being in the business,” she told Flaunt magazine. “Members have views, and some of them may not be positive about members of your family. I’ve never gained a job because of it, and I’m sure I’ve lost a few jobs as a result.”

Why can’t Eric talk about Julia?
Today, the Roberts siblings wish to keep their connection private. There appears to be an unspoken restriction in the Roberts family about Eric addressing his daughter or sister in the media.

Eric revealed this during a July interview for the Still Here Hollywood podcast. “I adore my sister, but I cannot talk about her. “She does not want to talk about it,” he said. “My daughter also warned me not to talk about her, but I still do. I shouldn’t talk about either of them, but I do.

But the proud father couldn’t help but brag about her achievements. During his participation on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Eric revealed his connection with Julia, saying: “I’m really enjoying my daughter’s work right now. I can’t believe how brilliant she has gotten.” I’m so proud of her; I can’t see straight,” Eric stated on the program.

Writing his memoirs has allowed Eric to digest everything. As he explains in his book, he hopes that this is the start of a more peaceful existence, free of addiction and broken relationships.

“I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad for the rest of my life,” he says. “I’d like to make good on it, to step away proudly and gracefully. That’s one of the reasons I wrote the book.