Age, Biography, and Wiki
Eric Roberts, born Eric Anthony Roberts, is currently 69 years old. He comes from a family of actors and playwrights, with his parents being Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts. Eric's career began in the late 1970s, marking him as one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood. His early success was marked by roles in films like "King of the Gypsies" (1978) and "Runaway Train" (1985), for which he received significant awards and nominations.
| Occupation | Soap Opera Actor |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 18 April 1956 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Eric Roberts' height and weight are not widely documented, he is known for his distinctive appearance, which has been a staple in his acting career.
| Height | |
| Weight | |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
Eric Roberts is married, and his personal life, including past legal issues, has been a subject of media attention. He has been married to Eliza Roberts since 1992. The couple has faced challenges, including a notable incident in 1995 when Eric was arrested for shoving Eliza into a wall, which led to his decision to abstain from drugs.
In 1963, they co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop in Atlanta off Juniper Street in Midtown. They ran a children's acting school in Decatur, Georgia. Roberts' mother became a church secretary and real estate agent, and his father was a vacuum cleaner salesman. Roberts' younger siblings, Julia Roberts (from whom he was estranged until 2004) and Lisa Roberts Gillan, are also actors.
In 1971, Roberts' parents filed for divorce, which was finalized in early 1972. He stayed with his father, who died of cancer in March 1977, in Atlanta. After the divorce, his sisters moved with their mother to Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta. In 1972, their mother married Michael Motes. In 1976, they had a daughter, Nancy Motes, who died February 9, 2014, at age 37, of an apparent drug overdose. Michael Motes was abusive and often unemployed. In 1983, she divorced Motes, citing "cruelty"; she later said that marrying him was the biggest mistake of her life.
In 1996, he appeared in the Doctor Who television film in the role of the Master. The onscreen wife of Roberts' human character, who is killed by her newly possessed husband taken over by the Master, is played by his real-life wife. He also co-starred in the 1996 television miniseries version of In Cold Blood, in the role of Perry Smith; he was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film. He starred in C-16 for its entire 1997 to 1998 run. He starred opposite John Ritter in the movie Tripfall in 1998. He played the Archangel Michael in The Prophecy II (1997).
Roberts co-starred on the ABC situation comedy Less than Perfect. He appeared in an episode of CSI: Miami as Ken Kramer, a murderer on death row convicted of killing a young couple. Another notable TV appearance was the episode "Victims" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit where he played Sam Winfield, a former cop turned vigilante. In the same year, he was also guest-starred on The L Word as Gabriel McCutcheon, the father of Shane McCutcheon.
It was announced in June 2010 that he would be joining the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless starting July 12. The following month saw the release of the action film The Expendables in which Roberts plays a lead villain. It was directed by and starred Sylvester Stallone, with Jason Statham, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Gary Daniels, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, David Zayas, and Mickey Rourke. The film is about a group of elite mercenaries called The Expendables (Stallone, Statham, Li, Lundgren, Couture, and Crews) who are on a mission to overthrow dictator General Garza (Zayas) in Vilena, an island in the Gulf of Mexico. It is revealed that an ex-CIA officer James Munroe (Roberts) is keeping Garza in power as a figurehead for his own profiteering operations. With his two deadly bodyguards Dan Paine (Austin) and The Brit (Daniels), they become a major obstacle in the way of The Expendables. Later that year, he appeared with Steve Austin and Gary Daniels, his co-stars from The Expendables, in the 2010 action film Hunt to Kill. In October 2010, he played the major role in the American family movie First Dog, which received positive reviews. December 2010 saw the premiere of the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which documented Roberts' struggle with dependency on medical marijuana. His wife Eliza and his stepson Keaton Simons appeared in episode 6 to discuss the effects of his addiction on their lives.
In 2015, he appeared in season 5 of Lost Girl, a Canadian TV show on Showcase, as the main character, Bo's, father. In 2015 he appeared in the Rihanna video "Bitch Better Have My Money" and in Chris Cornell's video for "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart".
A 1989 profile of actress Sandy Dennis in People says she had a live-in relationship with Roberts for five years in a seven-bedroom house she rented in Connecticut. The relationship began several years after her 1974 parting from boyfriend Gerry Mulligan, a jazz musician who had lived with Dennis in the same house (whose Connecticut location was identified as Westport or Wilton in different People magazine articles).
In 1981, some months after Roberts began living with Dennis, he was in a debilitating car accident near their home. His ordeal was described by People magazine years later as "a month-long hospital stay after a bad car accident in 1981." Leaving the Wilton house he lived in with Dennis, Roberts went for a Jeep ride with his girlfriend's German Shepherd. When the dog seemed to lean out too far, Roberts tried to get hold of him. He let go of the steering wheel, and the car ended up hitting a tree. He was in a coma for three days. Dennis, an animal lover who cared for many dogs and cats, was relieved to learn her German Shepherd was not injured in the accident. Roberts recovered and his live-in relationship with Dennis lasted a few more years. Author James Spada claimed that it came to an end because of his affair with actress Ellen Barkin, while Roberts cited Dennis' refusal to start an animal shelter for some 100 stray cats living in the couple's shared home as the reason for their split.
Roberts broke off engagements with Dennis and actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. She eventually became an actress as well, making her major-film debut at age 10 in the 2001 drama Blow. After Roberts' relationship with Cunningham, he married Eliza Garrett (daughter of screenwriters David Rayfiel and Lila Garrett) in 1992. His stepson, Keaton Simons, is a singer-songwriter, and his stepdaughter, Morgan Simons, is a chef. Roberts became a grandfather for the first time in December 2020 when Emma gave birth to her first child, a son named Rhodes, with actor Garrett Hedlund.
On January 12, 2001, Roberts visited The Howard Stern Radio Show with Garrett, during a segment called "The Gossip Game" with Mike Walker of the National Enquirer. He confirmed that he and his sister, Julia, had been estranged for several years. The source of the estrangement had been his past drug abuse and her siding with his ex-girlfriend over the custody of his daughter. In 2004, he told People magazine that he and his sister reconciled when he visited her in the hospital after she gave birth to twins.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Eliza Garrett (m. 1992) |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
Eric Roberts' net worth varies across different estimates. As of 2024, his net worth is reported to be around $10 million by some sources, reflecting his enduring presence in the industry. However, other estimates suggest a lower figure of approximately $2 million. His prolific career with over 700 credits likely contributes to his financial stability, despite the variation in reported figures.
In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Roberts announced his support for Ukraine. He claims he was "one of the biggest stars" in Russia, however, he said, "I was canceled right away and couldn't work there. But we're so disappointed in Putin, I wouldn't want to go there anyway. But that was half my income, from working in Russia. So I go to other places now."
Career, Business, and Investments
Eric Roberts' career spans over four decades, with early success in films like "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984) and "Runaway Train" (1985). He has appeared in numerous television series, including "Less Than Perfect" and "Heroes". His versatility and ability to take on diverse roles have made him a sought-after actor in both film and television. Notable recent projects include "A Trip to Jamaica" (2016) and guest appearances in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Grey's Anatomy".
Roberts' career began with a leading role in King of the Gypsies (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Paul Snider in Bob Fosse's Star 80 (1983). Roberts' performance in Runaway Train (1985), as prison escapee Buck McGeehy, earned him a third Golden Globe nod and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Notable films Roberts has appeared in include Raggedy Man (1981), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), By the Sword (1991), Final Analysis (1992), The Specialist (1994), The Cable Guy (1996), It's My Party (1996), Cecil B. Demented (2000), National Security (2003), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), The Dark Knight (2008), The Expendables (2010), Lovelace (2013), Inherent Vice (2014), The Human Centipede 3 (2015), and Babylon (2022). A black belt in taekwondo, Roberts also demonstrated his martial arts skills in the films Best of the Best (1989) and its sequel Best of the Best II (1993).
In February 2009, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, who starred with Roberts in The Pope of Greenwich Village, said he hoped that Roberts would soon be offered a role which would resurrect his career in the way that The Wrestler rejuvenated Rourke's. He portrayed Seth Blanchard on the second season of the Starz series Crash, from 2009. In 2009, Roberts appeared as himself in "Tree Trippers", a season five episode of Entourage. He is portrayed as a mushroom and drug fanatic as he gives the boys mushrooms and joins them in Joshua Tree National Park to trip as they contemplate Vince's next movie decision. The same year, he appeared in the independent movie The Chaos Experiment, starring Val Kilmer which had a limited theatrical release, playing to small audiences on two screens for one week in Grand Rapids, and for one week in nearby Lansing. He also appeared in the independent movie Rock Slyde, starring Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick, Rena Sofer, and Elaine Hendrix. He had the main role in the action movie The Butcher. He was acted in the psychological thriller film Royal Kill. He also appeared in the Canadian-American thriller Bloodwork.
Social Network
While Eric Roberts is not as active on social media as some of his peers, his presence is felt through his extensive body of work and media coverage. His daughter, Emma Roberts, is also an actress, and her career often brings attention to the Roberts family.
In a 2018 Vanity Fair interview, Roberts traced his prolific filmography to when he stopped getting consistent offers from major film studios and started doing B movies. "I start making a bunch of B movies—bam bam bam bam bam bam—one after the other, and then suddenly two, three years have passed, and I made like 30 films in two, three years," Roberts recalled. He was executive producer for the film Beverly Hills Bandits, which he also acted in with Ron Jeremy and Natasha Alam.
In 2019, he starred in the crime thriller drama Night Walk, starring Mickey Rourke. He had a major role in the action movie The Reliant, alongside Kevin Sorbo. He also appears on the sci-fi movie The Immortal Wars: Resurgence. He acted in the crime/thriller 90 Feet From Home, including Dean Cain. He also played a supporting role in the family movie A Karate Christmas Miracle. Also in 2019, 23 years after initially playing the role, Roberts reprised his version of the Master, working with Big Finish Productions. He made his debut in series 5 of the spinoff series, The Diary of River Song. Later that year, he appeared in the finale of the Eighth Doctor story line, Ravenous, once more working opposite Paul McGann.
In September 2024, Roberts was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. He is partnered with Britt Stewart. Roberts' memoir, Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far, was published through St. Martin's Press on September 17, 2024. It was co-written with Vanity Fair contributor Sam Kashner.
Education
Information regarding Eric Roberts' formal education is not extensively detailed. However, his early involvement in acting and his family's background in the arts likely influenced his career path from a young age.
In summary, Eric Roberts is a testament to resilience and dedication in the entertainment industry, maintaining a strong presence despite personal challenges and fluctuations in his career trajectory.
On television, his performances in the drama miniseries In Cold Blood (1997) and the sitcom Less than Perfect (2002–2005) have earned him Satellite Award nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor for the latter. His other varied television work includes being the only non-UK actor to play the Master in the 1996 Doctor Who television film, as well as recurring roles on the NBC drama Heroes (2007–2010), the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (2010–2011), the legal drama Suits (2014–2019), and the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones (2022).
Roberts reprised the role of the Master in Doctor Who audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions. In January 2021, Roberts reprised the role of the Master in Masterful, a special audio drama release celebrating the 50th anniversary of the debut of that character. In March 2021, he appeared in his own spinoff series, Master! as well. The same year, he took part in the horror movie Escape to the Cove, appeared in the acclaimed short drama The Sleepless, guest starred again in season 17, episode 14 on the TV show Grey's Anatomy, acted in the comedy Peach Cobbler, starred in the TV movie Mommy's Deadly Con Artist. He was also involved in the drama movie After Masks, the horror film 616 Wilford Lane and the comedy Mr. Birthday. In 2022, he co-starred with Lana Wood in Dog Boy, and as a recurring character in the second season of the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones In 2023, he was a guest star at Season 2 South Wind: On the Edge (created by Miloš Avramović) together with Miloš Biković and William Baldwin.
In December 1987, Roberts was arrested after police found him banging on a woman's apartment door in Manhattan's Upper West Side. He was charged with criminal trespass, possession of cocaine and marijuana, and second-degree assault after he punched a police officer. In February 1988, he pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to six months on probation. His possession and assault charges were dropped.
