Eric Roberts has had a tumultuous career and personal life, filled with incredible highs and devastating lows. In his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far, the actor opens up about his rise to fame, his troubled childhood and the rifts that shaped his family life. Within its pages, he even penned a “public apology” to his sister, Julia, one that he hopes she’ll accept.
Eric Roberts’ rise to fame and troubled childhood
Eric Roberts burst onto the Hollywood scene in the 1970s and experienced major success following his role in Runaway Train (1985), a film that earned him both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.
However, behind his success was a dark and difficult upbringing. In his memoir, Roberts details what he describes as a “not safe” childhood with his parents, Walter Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus. When the two divorced, he stayed with his father, while his sister, fellow actor Julia Roberts, went to live with their mother. Their father, Roberts says, was a “screwed-up individual” who he believed was immensely jealous of his career and success.
These early life experiences, coupled with the pressures of fame, led Roberts down a destructive path of addiction. He admits this made it “dangerous to be around me,” causing damage not just to his career, but also to his personal relationships. During this time, as well, the actor was involved in a near-fatal car accident, which left him in a coma for three days and resulted in significant memory issues.
Offering Julia Roberts a ‘public apology’
Eric Roberts’ relationship with his sister, Julia, became strained as their careers progressed. While it was he who initially found fame, her star eventually surpassed his, sparking feelings of resentment.
Reacting to these feelings of jealousy and resentment, Roberts would make unsupportive comments like, “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.” This was just the beginning of the very public rift between the siblings.
In his memoir, Roberts addresses the feud, offering a heartfelt apology to his sister. “I hope Julia will accept this public apology,” he writes. “It was an asinine thing to have said.” He admits that his self-destructive behavior created distance within the family, but he now hopes to mend those bonds.
Eric Roberts lost custody of his daughter
Eric Roberts’ addiction not only caused strife within his immediate family, but also led to one of the most painful moments of his life: the loss of custody of his daughter, actor Emma Roberts. The custody battle was a turning point, and he openly acknowledges that his substance issues played a major role in the court’s decision.
Adding to family tensions, his sister sided with Emma’s mother, actress Kelly Cunningham, during the custody dispute. However, he admits her support of Cunningham was the right choice, though it deepened the divide between them at the time. “The biggest consequence of my drug use was losing custody of Emma,” he writes, recognizing that the rift with his daughter was something he had to come to terms with.
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In a moment of acceptance, Roberts wrote, “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.”