Eric Roberts: estranged from his daughter Emma and sister Julia, he is forbidden to speak publicly about them.

Eric Roberts is, to this day, one of the most prolific English-speaking actors in the world. Known for his roles in “The King of the Gypsies,” “Star 80,” “The Dark Knight,” as well as “The Expendables” and “Babylon,” the now septuagenarian no longer needs to prove himself. Except, perhaps, to his family. Indeed, his relationships with his close ones, especially his daughter Emma Roberts (born in 1991) and his sister Julia Roberts, have always been very complicated. It must be said that, in the past, Eric Roberts did not mince his words about the two women. Interrogated by Vanity Fair in 2018, he openly declared that “his daughter and his sister were famous only because of him.” “Without me, Julia Roberts and Emma Roberts would not be celebrities, actresses, and I am very proud. When Julia arrived in New York, I went to William Morris and asked: ‘Which one of you is going to sign my sister Julia?’ And I am so proud that everyone knows that I was the first, because I was the first, by far. I was the first to be nominated for the Golden Globes and the Oscars, so yes, I am proud,” he said without realizing the impact of his words.

Eric Roberts Apologizes

Deeply hurt by this reductive speech, Julia Roberts and her niece Emma Roberts, whose talent is undeniable, therefore embarked on a relentless struggle to banish their brother and father from their lives. Quickly, they banned Eric from speaking publicly about them under the threat of legal sanctions. But to everyone’s surprise, the man did not comply with this injunction. However, he only made positive remarks about the two women and apologized several times. In his book released in 2024 titled “Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far,” he notably revisited his previous statements, calling them “stupid” and “inappropriate.” “I hope Julia will accept these more public apologies,” he wrote sincerely.

Before even crossing swords with his sister with these disrespectful remarks, Eric Roberts admits that their relationship had been tense for a long time and was closely linked to his addiction problems of all kinds. “I was exhausting to be around: I complained, I was unable to appreciate the pleasures of life. Everyone in my circle needed a break, and Julia was part of that,” he confessed, still to Vanity Fair.

A Brief Respite for the Roberts Family

Today, the Roberts clan seems to have found a bit more peace, even if the relationships are still far from being perfect. Eric Roberts continues to pile up roles in small, even very small, budget productions and no longer talks about his sister and daughter.