Unpacking the controversy surrounding Eric Roberts’ referencing his sister Julia Roberts in his memoir Runaway Train.
In Hollywood’s ever-evolving landscape, family dynamics often become intertwined with the glitz and glamour of fame, resulting in compelling narratives that capture the public’s attention. Actor Eric Roberts, known for his strong performances in King of the Gypsies and Paul’s Case, has found himself at the center of such a situation following the release of his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far.
The book explores his tumultuous upbringing in Georgia and the various highs and lows of his long acting career, along with an apology to his sister and the beloved Hollywood icon Julia Roberts. The apology stems from his previous statement that his sister’s success is largely down to him. However, the sibling rivalry has taken an unexpected turn, as recent reports indicate that Julia Roberts is not happy with her brother naming her in his memoir.
Eric Roberts is the Eldest Among His Siblings
Born to Walter Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus, who ran a progressive acting school for children in Atlanta, Georgia, Eric Roberts was the first of his siblings, who made his way to the film industry in the 1970s, a fact he takes great pride in.
In his memoir, Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far, the actor reflects on his upbringing. He describes his father as a man shaped by his own abusive father, following a similar path marked by alcoholism and violent outbursts. His parents eventually split in 1972, having three children: Eric Roberts, Julia Roberts, and Lisa Roberts Gillan.
Following their split, their mother remarried Michael Motes, and together they welcomed another daughter, Nancy Motes, who sadly passed away in 2014. While his sisters stayed with their mother, the actor continued to live with his father after the divorce, who passed away in 1977.
Eric Roberts Journey to Stardom And Rift With Sister Julia Roberts
Eric Roberts later moved to New York to pursue acting and started gaining recognition for his early roles in King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Pope of Greenwich Village.
His career reached new heights with his Oscar-nominated performance in the 1985 action thriller Runaway Train. Since then, he has remained active in the industry, accumulating over 700 credits to his name.
Eric Roberts was followed by his sisters, including Julia Roberts, who also made their way to New York to pursue their dreams. The Pretty Woman star, who moved to New York at the age of 17, gained recognition with her work in movies like Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias and was soon a successful actress herself.
She has shared how her sister Lisa Roberts Gillan, who had already moved to New York, was extremely helpful to her. “When I asked to move in with her just days after I graduated… she never blinked an eye… before saying yes,” the actress said, as per People.
However, the relationship with her brother grew sour due to Eric’s struggles with drug addiction, which he candidly addresses in his memoir, along with the controversial statements he made regarding her success, which has contributed to an ongoing alleged rift between them.
Eric Roberts Re-build His Relationship With Julia Roberts
Though the siblings became celebrated Hollywood stars, they gradually grew apart. The actor has previously opened up about his relationship with his sisters and the challenges they faced.
The Dark Knight actor also has acknowledged how his long-term drug abuse strained their relationship. He addressed the issue in his memoir, saying, “Lisa and Julia needed love and protection — instead they got fear and uncertainty,” as per People.
He also shared that things particularly fell apart between him and the Hook star after she supported his ex Kim Cunningham during the custody battle for their daughter, Emma Roberts. The former couple was together for three years and broke up after welcoming their daughter in 1991.
However, despite their issues, they reconnected in 2004, when Julia Roberts welcomed her twins with her ex-husband, Danny Moder. In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, the actor shared that they have since grown close, describing themselves as “e-mail buddies.” Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for him to potentially jeopardize his relationship with the Mother’s Day star again.
Eric Roberts Claimed the Credit For His Sister And Daughter’s Careers
During the Vanity Fair interview, he expressed pride in his influence on his sister and daughter’s career, asserting that without him, the Pretty Woman star and his daughter might not have achieved celebrity status.
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. 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?
The actor, however, didn’t stop there as he further boasted about his achievements, proclaiming,
And I am so proud that everybody knows I was first because I was first by a long shot. I was first to get Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, so I’m proud of that.
These remarks were certainly unpleasant for the Notting Hill star. While the actress doesn’t appear to have addressed her brother’s statements publicly, reports suggest that his comments have caused tensions between them.
Eric Roberts Was Blocked From Talking About His Sister And Daughter
While there isn’t much about how the actress reacted to claims made by her brother during the Vanity Fair interview, Eric Roberts revealed in a later interview that he is not supposed to talk about his sister and his daughter.
In an appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, he shared a brief insight into their relationship, saying that they don’t often talk about each other.
“I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her,” he said before adding that his daughter, Emma Roberts, had also “told me not to talk about her, but I stumbled and do.” He further stated, “I’m not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.”
While the reasons remained unknown, it could be due to his previous remarks about them and his influence on their careers, a statement for which he apologized to her in his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far.
Eric Roberts Apologized to Julia Roberts
After asserting credit for Julia Roberts’ successful career and acknowledging that he is not supposed to talk about his sister, Eric Roberts has offered an apology to his sister in his memoir.
Now one of the things I’d like to apologize for in this book is for publicly saying on more than one occasion, ‘If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.
Reflecting further on his previous comments, he added, “That’s not only unfortunate, but it’s also untrue. And I hope Julie will accept this more public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said. I was proud of her, but it was pride turned on its head, to my own advantage.”
The actor also described his sister as a “very driven woman” arguing that she would have forged a successful career in Hollywood without his influence or assistance. However, he still appeared to have gotten a little carried away this time as well, with presumptions about what might have happened if he hadn’t encouraged them to move to New York.
Eric Roberts on Shaping Julia Roberts’ Career and Critiques Her Oscar-Nominated Performance
In addition to his apology, the Babylon actor also states in his book, as per Deadline,
On the other hand, I was born to do this. I moved to New York City when I wasn’t even old enough to drink a beer in public. If Julie had stayed in Atlanta, she’d probably have married a wealthy dude and lived a very different life. So I will take credit, once I had broken away from my father (or thought I had) and moved to New York City, for telling my sisters, ‘Come on up, girls; the water’s fine.’
Though it’s fair for him to acknowledge that he inspired and encouraged his sisters to move to New York and pursue their dreams, his presumptions about their alternate fate, once again hint at lingering pride of being the first to make such huge achievements in the family.
He also goes on to make critical remarks on the Oscar-winning actress’ acting and her performances in the 1989 comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, the film that landed Roberts her first Oscar nomination.
Julia was good in Mystic Pizza, great in Pretty Woman, but not so much in Steel Magnolias, in my opinion, even though it brought Julia her first Academy Award nomination. I don’t want to sound like an actor talking, or a jealous sibling, but I don’t think her performance held up in that movie.
These critical remarks are just a small glimpse of what he shares about his sister in his memoir. He also touches on her relationship with Liam Neeson, her childhood, and what he describes as introducing his “baby sister” to New York City.
Eric Roberts’ Memoir Sparks New Tensions with Julia Roberts
While Eric Roberts apologized for the statements he made back in the 2018 interview, he seems to have landed in a similar situation by sharing private details about Julia Roberts’ childhood, and personal life in his new memoir.
And it hasn’t reportedly gone over well with the Leave the World Behind star, with reports stating, “Eric’s new book has Julia seeing red.” The friend also argued that the Saltwater actor knows very little about Roberts’ life, and views his use of her name to promote his memoir as “unforgivable.”
As per a report from In Touch, one of the friends of the actress has stated,
Julia is 12 years younger than Eric and he had already moved out of the house by the time she was in second grade — She says Eric actually knows very little about her, and that he used her life to help sell his book is unforgivable — but she won’t tell him so.
The rift appears to be deepening following the memoir’s release, with reports suggesting that rather than confronting her brother, the Money Monster star would “rather not speak” to her brother again.
