With his intense eyes, brooding charm, and irresistible screen presence, Eric Roberts became one of the defining actors of the 1980s. But behind the fame was a private heartbreak — a choice that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Long before earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, Roberts was a young father battling demons he could barely control. Born in 1956 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he rose quickly from stage acclaim in Burn This to major roles in King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Runaway Train. By the mid-’80s, he was a star — but addiction was already dismantling his world.
When his daughter Emma was born on February 10, 1991, with his then-partner Kelly Cunningham, Roberts was in a downward spiral.
“I left Kelly when Emma was only seven months old,” he later admitted.
Unable to face fatherhood through the haze of substance abuse, Roberts stepped away as Kelly was awarded full custody. The situation became even more complicated when his sister, Julia Roberts, stepped in to help Kelly financially. Rumors swirled that Julia had taken sides, but Eric later clarified that there had never been a custody fight — and that he was grateful for her support of Emma when he wasn’t able to provide it.
Emma grew up largely with her mother, spending time with her famous aunt, and quickly fell in love with acting. Childhood visits to the Erin Brockovich set sparked the passion that led her to American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and numerous film roles. But the emotional distance from her father lingered. When once asked if they were close, she answered gently: “Um… no, we’re not.”
Now 69 and sober, Eric Roberts has confronted the damage caused by addiction.
“For a long time, I was a practicing addict,” he told Today. “I hurt people I loved.”
Today, he’s focused on healing, rebuilding, and showing gratitude for the love that remained. On Emma’s birthday, he shared a childhood photo of her with the caption:
“The love on my face says it all. I knew she’d become everything and more.”
Roberts has repaired his marriage to Eliza Roberts, found stability, and continues to work — both humbled and wiser.
“The only way to set an example is to survive your mistakes,” he says.
Though he wasn’t present for much of Emma’s childhood, one thing is clear:
He still watches her journey with quiet pride — a father who finally understands what truly matters.
