He had the smoldering eyes, the dangerous charm, and the talent that made him one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars of the ’80s.
But behind the fame, one heartbreaking choice has followed Eric Roberts all his life — walking away from his baby daughter when she was just seven months old.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1956, Roberts rose to fame with acclaimed roles in King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Runaway Train. Yet behind the success, addiction was tearing his life apart.
When his daughter Emma was born in 1991, Roberts was deep in his struggles. “I abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old,” he later admitted, referring to ex-partner Kelly Cunningham. Julia Roberts, his sister, helped Kelly financially during the split — but there was no real custody battle.
As Eric battled addiction, Emma grew up with her mother and often visited her famous aunt on film sets — sparking her own passion for acting. Years later, she became a star in American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and We’re the Millers, though her relationship with her father remained distant.
Now 69, Eric Roberts is sober, reflective, and still acting. He’s spoken openly about his past and the people he hurt: “Addicts aren’t bad guys — they’re just making a mistake.”
He’s made peace with his daughter and often expresses quiet pride in her success. “I knew she’d grow up to be all that and more,” he wrote.
After losing fame, family, and fatherhood, Eric Roberts has finally found something deeper — clarity, forgiveness, and hope.