Eric Roberts Credited 'Guardian Angel' Wife of 29 Years with Helping Him Walk & Talk Again & Fixing 'Joke' Life

Actor Eric Roberts is today, a household name with hundreds of acting credits under his belt. He rose to stardom despite a childhood disability and credits his success to his "guardian angel," who has supported him through thick and thin.

Eric Roberts' acting dream was born out of a speaking problem he had as a child. The actor suffered from a terrible stutter, but when he was five, he discovered that whenever he memorized stuff, he could speak regularly.

Since then, he developed a love for acting that has seen him appear in more than 500 films. He made his debut playing the obstinate gypsy youth, Dave Stepanowicz, in "King of the Gypsies," for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Behind his Hollywood success is a woman who stood by his side and became his support system through the life challenges they had to overcome. Roberts and his wife Eliza have been together for 29 years, and their union is only growing stronger.

The pair met on an MGM Grand airlines plane, where they sat together. Eliza had one of her father, David Rayfiel's scripts, in her hand, while Roberts was also reading a script. When they settled in their seats, they found themselves forced to talk about what they were reading.

Eliza then asked Roberts who his favorite screenwriter was, and he said there was only one answer to that question: "Rayfiel." He then listed Rayfiel's work, and Eliza said she knew all about it since Rayfiel was her father. She recalled:

“So there were all these strange connections. . . . But I thought he was probably gay because he was very pretty and had a cat on his lap named Tender.”

The flight became the genesis of a whirlwind romance, and the lovebirds married six years later in 1992. And while their romance was a match made in heaven, Eliza does not shy away from admitting that her husband can sometimes be trouble:

“He’s had the bad-boy image from age 19 to 59, and still the crush-worthiness of him spans generations and genders.”

His bad-boy image may have worked to his advantage on many occasions, but it has also landed him in one of the most challenging moments of his life.

Roberts Fought and Won a War against Drugs

After landing a string of breakout roles in the late '70s and early '80s, Roberts was headed for an exciting time when he would become a bankable leading man in Hollywood.

He had everything it took to become a bonafide movie star — he was dedicated, had an incredible love for the art, and had an edgy beauty that made him popular among colleagues, not forgetting his unmistakable talent. So what happened to deter him from reaching the stardom he was so undoubtfully headed towards?

His troubles began years earlier when he got involved with drug use and abuse. Roberts admits he got involved with the habit when the vice was rampant in Hollywood.

He says one would arrive on the set in the morning, and the executives would send them out to use. At the time, everyone at the studios, from executives to craft services, was using.

He got so caught up that one day in 1981, while high on cocaine, Roberts had a horrific accident. He was in a coma, his speech became retarded and he had to re-learn how to walk and talk.

The "Twist of Fate" star spent two months attending rehab and trying to get back in shape and admits that it was a very challenging time of his life.

While he recovered after a while, he continued to suffer from short-term memory problems, which are common in brain tumor patients. He, however, never quit using drugs, even getting arrested for possession in 1987.

Eventually, his wife had had enough and gave him an ultimatum to choose between her or the drugs. He picked her and quit his drug-using habits. Unwilling to lose the woman who had stood by him all along, he turned his life around.

Roberts Credits His Change to His Guardian Angel Wife

Not everyone has the chance to turn their lives around, especially after addition. But Roberts had his, and he credits his wife for standing with him and encouraging him to get his life together.

After sobering up, Roberts disclosed to Eliza that he would be happy if he could work daily. Unfortunately, he had lost credibility with agents, and the significant roles had stopped coming in.

He started doing B movies back to back, and before he realized it, he had made over 30 films in three years, and up to 70 films between 2016 and 2018. Roberts says he became a joke, and people make fun of him, but his wife made it a habit to constantly remind him that he was a wonderful person:

"And so suddenly, it's like 250 movies, and I realize I went from being a joke that will do anything to being 'Is there anything he can't do?'"

Besides his films, Roberts has also appeared in numerous music videos, including Mariah Carey's "It's Like That," and as the groom in her 2005 "We Belong Together" video. He has also appeared in The Killers' "Mr. Brightside," and "Miss Atomic Bomb."

Roberts has been through many hurdles but has overcome them all because of his wife. He says Eliza has been the constant in his life and his guardian angel through the years. He also had a few nuggets of wisdom to share regarding how to make a marriage last that long.

Speaking to Closer Weekly, Roberts disclosed that honesty is paramount in any marriage, adding that sex was equally vital in making a good relationship last.

Despite being married for nearly three decades, "The Dark Honeymoon" actor is still incredibly close to his wife and cannot stay away from her for too long as he misses her terribly.

“I was on a trip for only three days, and I thought, ‘God, I hate being away from her!' I can’t stand it, because I got old with her. This is my roommate, my pal, my confidante, my manager, the girl I kiss.” He says.