He's a Hollywood Star's Brother and the Dad Who 'Abandoned' His Daughter at 7 Months — Who Is This 1980s Heartthrob

The 1980s heartthrob, who also built an illustrious career in Hollywood, has spoken out about his relationships with his famous sister and daughter in past interviews.

For decades, his smoldering eyes and commanding screen presence made him one of Hollywood's most magnetic leading men. Famous for his roles in iconic movies such as "Runaway Train" and "Star 80," a certain Hollywood star rose to prominence in the late 70s and into the '80s.

While he has experienced significant success professionally, the actor's personal life has endured challenges, especially as it concerns the complex relationships he shares with his sister and daughter, who are also prominent stars in the entertainment industry.

A Star Is Born

Born on April 18, 1956, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the star began his acting journey far from the glitz of Hollywood — honing his craft in New York City theater, where he earned critical acclaim and a Theatre World Award for his performance on Broadway in "Burn This."

From there, his ascent in the film industry was swift and impressive. By the late 1970s, he was already turning heads with a Golden Globe–nominated performance in "King of the Gypsies."

Throughout the '80s and '90s, his cinematic presence only grew stronger. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his gripping role in "Runaway Train" (1985) and collected additional Golden Globe nods for that performance as well as for "Star 80" (1983).

His versatility shone through in a wide array of projects, from indie classics like "La Cucaracha," which earned him Best Actor honors at the New York Independent Film Festival, to mainstream hits such as "The Specialist" (1994) and "Final Analysis" (1992).

This actor didn't slow down in the decades that followed. He received recognition at Sundance for his roles in "It's My Party" (1996) and "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" (2006), and appeared in blockbuster films like "The Dark Knight" (2008), "The Expendables" (2010), and Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" (2014).

His credits also include "Lovelace" (2013), adding to an already diverse portfolio. Beyond the silver screen, he built a formidable presence on television.

With recurring roles on hit shows such as "Heroes," "Suits," "CSI," "Code Black," and "Crash," as well as guest appearances on "Grey's Anatomy," "Will & Grace," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Hawaii Five-O," and "Entourage," his adaptability as a performer remained evident.

Still actively working, he continues to take on roles in both major and independent productions. Among his more recent projects are "Head Full of Honey," where he played a doctor opposite Matt Dillon, and "Hard Luck Love Song," in which he portrayed a wise, grizzled doorman.

He's also appeared in "La Reina del Sur" as a DEA boss — a fitting role for a career that has never shied away from complexity or charisma.

A Father's Shattering Regret: 'I Had Abandoned Kelly When Emma Was Just Seven Months Old'

The acclaimed actor is none other than Eric Roberts — a man whose name, like his career, has never been far from the spotlight. But behind the steady rhythm of film sets and red carpets, Eric's personal life has long carried a quieter ache — one that centers around his daughter, actress Emma Roberts.

In the past, Eric has spoken candidly about his regrets as a father. Reflecting on one of the most painful chapters of his life, he revealed, "I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old."

The admission was stark and deeply human — a recognition of choices that would come to define the distance between him and his daughter for decades. For Emma, the separation from her father left an imprint she seldom discusses publicly.

In a 2022 interview with Tatler, the "American Horror Story" star reflected on her upbringing, which saw her parents separate when she was still a baby. Speaking about her mother with warmth, Emma shared, "She's pretty much been with me non-stop since Rhodes was born," referring to her own son.

When asked directly about her father and if they are close, her tone shifted. "Um… how do I say this? No, we're not," she admitted, her words carrying the weight of years apart, having spent her childhood with mom Kelly Cunningham, while Eric battled with drug addiction.

Eric has also acknowledged the emotional cost of their estrangement. During a 2024 appearance on the podcast "Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum," he reflected on what he considers the most difficult period of his life. "Probably the loss of relationship [sic] with my daughter," he confessed.

While he stopped short of delving into specifics, his tone revealed a lingering sorrow. "There's not a pain," he explained, "there's a sadness for the most likely misunderstanding we'll have forever, because we're human."

Despite the emotional distance that has defined their relationship, in recent years, Eric has occasionally offered glimpses into the love he still holds for his daughter.

On the eve of Emma's birthday in 2023, he took to Instagram to share a tender throwback photo of her when she was younger, standing before him, reading instructions for a toy he was trying to assemble.

"Very happiest of birthday eves to my precious daughter," he wrote in the caption, before reflecting on the candid moment. "As you can see, I am clueless as to how to go about the task, as I am about many tasks & other things. But the love on my face, even in profile, for her is undeniable."

He ended the heartfelt caption with a note of pride and enduring affection, "I knew she'd grow up to be all that and more. One of the rare things I was right about. I love you, Emma. Happy Birthday February [sic] 10."

The Other Roberts: Eric Roberts' Complex Relationship With Julia Roberts

Just as the bond between Eric and Emma has been marked by distance and complexity, so too has his relationship with his A-lister sister, Julia Roberts. Though the siblings were once close, time, personal struggles, and fame appear to have created emotional silences between them.

Still, Eric hasn't shied away from expressing his love and pride for her and his other sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan. In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, he opened up about their sibling relationships. "I wouldn't characterize it as a falling-out. I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them," divulged Eric.

"We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself [...] I was exhausting to be around [...] Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia," he continued, referring to how his longtime drug use alienated him from the actress.

Still, the siblings managed to turn a corner when Julia welcomed her twins with her husband in 2004. Eric and his wife, Eliza Roberts, went to the hospital to drop off gifts.

"Instead I was ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love [sic]," he noted. Since then, the pair have enjoyed family holidays like Thanksgiving together and have become, as Eric put it, "e-mail buddies."

However, his tone shifted slightly once asked about Emma, as he credited himself for helping launch both hers and Julia's careers. "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I'm very proud of that," he declared.

He went on to recall introducing Julia to the influential talent agency William Morris, long before "Mystic Pizza" would make her a household name. "And I am so proud that everybody knows I was first, because I was first by a long shot," Eric added.

And yet, for all the pride he carries, Eric is now careful — if not cautious — when speaking about his famous sister and daughter. During a 2024 appearance on "Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko," he spoke with a mix of affection and restraint.

"I love my sister, but I can't talk about her. She don't want to talk about it. Also, my daughter told me also not to talk about her, but I stumble and do [sic]," he disclosed.

Still, even with that boundary, his admiration remains clear. "I am in love with my daughter's work these days, like I can't believe how great she's become. I'm so proud of her, I can't see straight," he admitted, his voice tinged with sincerity and awe.

'It's So Much Fun!': A Father Swoons, Even from Afar

Even with the distance between them, Eric continues to beam with admiration when speaking about his daughter's rise in the industry. "It's so much fun! It's so much fun for me," he said, expressing how he feels watching his daughter succeed. "She's never had any training [...] and it's been lovely for me to watch her become an actor [...] I love her work," Eric added.

When asked if he'd ever want to share the screen with her, he didn't hesitate, expressing, "Are you kidding, [sic] I would love that. I'd also love my sister to play my sister."

A Remorseful Eric Roberts Apologizes to His Family

While Eric once spoke with unfiltered pride about helping launch the careers of his sister and daughter, time — and reflection — have brought a softer, more remorseful perspective.

In his memoir, "Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far," the actor took responsibility for that past comment, writing, "I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said."

He also acknowledged the darker periods of his life, when his struggles with addiction damaged the very relationships he cherished most. "I wouldn't be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from when it was dangerous to be around me," he admitted.

The consequences of those years, he confessed, extended beyond his siblings. "Of course, the biggest consequence of my drug use was losing Emma," Eric wrote of the custody battle that separated him from his daughter.

According to him, his relationship with Julia further unraveled when she supported Emma's mother, Kelly, during that time — a decision he now concedes was the right one.

With a tone of reconciliation, Eric reflected, "I imagine I will remain as Julia's brother and Emma Roberts' dad for the rest of my life. I'd like to make good on that, to move aside proudly and with grace. That's part of the reason for writing the book."

One Love That Never Faltered

Through all the turbulence in his personal life, one relationship has stood strong for Eric — his marriage to Eliza. Their story began unexpectedly on an MGM Grand flight to Los Angeles. Eliza, a casting director, had changed her reservation at the last minute. Eric, fresh off a shoot in Rome, boarded the same plane — with his cat, Tender, on his lap.

Seated side by side, the two struck up a conversation that quickly turned into a connection. "It was a chick magnet," Eric later joked about the cat. They had almost worked together before, but this chance encounter sealed their fate.

Later that evening, Eric called Eliza. Her babysitter, recognizing the voice, told her, "You're taking this call or I'm going to die." That babysitter? A then-unknown Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Their chance meeting on a plane blossomed into a marriage that has become a cornerstone of Eric's life. Over the years, he's credited Eliza not just as a partner, but as a guiding force through his most difficult chapters.

"I got a wife who comes from royalty — Hollywood royalty," he boasted during a 2020 appearance on "The Ed Mylett Show," referring to Eliza's Emmy-winning lineage and deep understanding of the industry. "She gets every single bit of it."

But beyond their shared career paths, it was Eliza's unwavering support that helped Eric face himself. "My wife sending me to therapy saved my life," he admitted, revealing how that journey led him to confront the behavior and pain that once defined him — and ultimately, to rebuild.

'Addicts Aren't Bad Guys': Eric Roberts Owns His Story, Scars and All

In recent years, Eric has spoken with increasing openness about the demons he's battled and survived. During a 2024 interview on "Today," he reflected on his long fight with addiction, describing it as both a personal and universal struggle.

"The only way to be a good example is to get through being a casualty," he shared. "And it's a bit of a trick, because we drug addicts are casualties, and we have to fight it every day."

His journey, he admitted, cost him deeply — especially when it came to family. "For many years, I was a practicing drug addict. So, a lot of people were alienated, especially the family, and the family, I owe them a lot because I love them. I owe them a lot because they love me," the actor stated.

Eric Roberts no longer tries to rewrite the past — instead, he owns it, with clarity and compassion. "Addicts aren't bad guys," he noted. "They're just making a mistake."