He had the piercing gaze, dangerous allure, and undeniable charisma that made him one of Hollywood’s most captivating actors of the 1980s.
But behind the glitz and glamour was a painful truth — one decision that has haunted him for decades.
Before becoming an Oscar-nominated star, Eric Roberts was a young father who made a devastating choice: he walked away from his infant daughter when she was just seven months old.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1956, Roberts quickly rose to fame as one of the most talented leading men of his time. After earning critical acclaim on Broadway for Burn This, he soon became a film sensation, collecting Golden Globe nominations for King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Runaway Train.
By the mid-1980s, he was a household name — handsome, magnetic, and successful. But behind the scenes, Roberts’ life was unraveling due to substance abuse, and it would soon destroy his family.
When his daughter Emma was born on February 10, 1991, with his then-partner Kelly Cunningham, his life was already in turmoil.
“I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old,” he later confessed.
Deep in addiction, Roberts’ relationship with Kelly fell apart, and she was granted full custody of their baby girl.
“I couldn’t face the reality of having an infant in my life. I wasn’t capable of being a father,” he wrote in his 2024 memoir Runaway Train.
The situation became even more painful when his sister, Julia Roberts, offered support — not to him, but to Kelly.
Many assumed Julia betrayed her brother, but Eric later clarified that wasn’t the case.
“There was never a custody battle,” he explained. “Julia never took sides. She simply helped financially, because she could — and for Emma’s sake, I was grateful.”
As Eric struggled with addiction, Emma Roberts grew up in her mother’s care, often spending time with her famous aunt. She recalled visiting the set of Erin Brockovich as a child and being enchanted by the world of filmmaking.
“I’d hide in her trailer, and people would go, ‘Where’s Emma? It’s time for bed!’” she remembered fondly.
That spark eventually led Emma to become a star in her own right — starring in American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and We’re the Millers.
Yet the distance between father and daughter never fully disappeared. Asked once if they were close, Emma answered softly: “Um… how do I say this? No, we’re not.”
Now 69, Eric Roberts is sober, introspective, and still acting. He’s been candid about the damage caused by his addiction.
“For years, I was a practicing addict,” he told Today. “I hurt a lot of people, especially my family. They still love me, and I’m lucky for that.”
These days, he has found peace and forgiveness. In a touching Instagram tribute for Emma’s birthday, he posted a photo of her as a child, writing:
“The love on my face for her is undeniable. I knew she’d grow up to be everything and more. I love you, Emma.”
Eric Roberts no longer hides from his past. He’s rebuilt his marriage to Eliza Roberts, found sobriety, and continues to work in both mainstream and independent films.
“The only way to be a good example is to survive your mistakes,” he said. “Addicts aren’t bad people — they’re people who made bad choices.”
He’s proud of Emma’s success and confident she’s stronger than he was at her age.
“She’s got the tools to protect herself in this business. She’s smarter and tougher than I ever was.”
After years of loss, regret, and redemption, Eric Roberts has found something deeper than fame — understanding, forgiveness, and love.
And while his daughter grew up without him, one thing remains unchanged:
He’s still watching over her — quietly, with the pride of a father who finally learned what matters most.