You know the name. You definitely know the smile. But when people talk about Julia Roberts brother, the conversation usually takes a sharp turn into "Whatever happened to him?" territory.
It’s a wild story. Honestly, if you scripted the life of Eric Roberts, Hollywood executives would probably tell you to tone it down. It’s too dramatic. Too messy. Too many "unbelievable" highs followed by "how-is-he-still-working" lows.
Most people just see him as the guy who used to be famous and now shows up in every third B-movie on Amazon Prime. But the reality is that Eric Roberts was the first superstar in that family. Before Pretty Woman, before the Oscar, and before the "America’s Sweetheart" title, there was Eric. He was the brooding, intense, Academy Award-nominated leading man who paved the way for his little sister.
And then, things got complicated. Kinda tragic, actually.
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The Feud That Defined a Dynasty
The falling out between Julia and Eric wasn't just some minor sibling squabble over who borrowed whose car. It was decades of silence. Basically, it all came to a head in the early '90s.
Eric was struggling. Hard. He was battling a massive cocaine addiction that made him, in his own words, "dangerous to be around." When he and his ex-partner, Kelly Cunningham, split up, a brutal custody battle erupted over their daughter—the now-famous Emma Roberts.
Here’s the kicker: Julia Roberts didn't take her brother's side. She actually funded Kelly’s legal team.
She felt that Eric wasn't in a place to be a father at the time, and she put her money where her mouth was to ensure the baby was safe. Eric didn't take that well. For years, he’d go on the record saying things like, "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts." He took credit for her fame because he’d introduced her to his agents. It was a classic "I made you" move that most siblings would find unforgivable.
Eric Roberts: More Than Just a Famous Last Name
Despite the family drama, you can't ignore the man's resume. It’s insane.
Eric has over 700 acting credits. He’s literally one of the most prolific actors in the history of cinema. While Julia was winning over the world with romantic comedies, Eric was carving out a path in gritty, cult-classic cinema.
- Runaway Train (1985): This is the big one. He landed an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He was electric.
- Star 80 (1983): He played Paul Snider, and it was terrifying. It proved he wasn't just a pretty face; he had a dark, technical range that few could match.
- The Dark Knight (2008): Modern audiences know him as Sal Maroni, the mob boss who realizes too late that the Joker is a different kind of animal.
He works constantly. If you’ve seen a movie featuring a sleek villain with a gravelly voice in the last five years, there is a 40% chance it was Eric. His philosophy is simple: if the script is okay and the check clears, he’s there.
Why 2024 and 2025 Changed Everything
For a long time, the Roberts family was a fractured unit. But things have shifted lately.
In late 2024, Eric released his memoir, Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far. It wasn't just a "tell-all" for the sake of gossip. It was a public apology. He finally admitted—in print—that his sister was right to side against him in that custody battle years ago. He apologized for the "asinine" things he said about her career.
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He basically said, "I was the problem."
It’s rare to see that kind of ego-death in Hollywood. He acknowledged that Julia and their other sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, probably suffered from PTSD just from being around him during his addict years.
The Current Relationship Status
As of 2026, the ice has largely thawed, though it's not exactly "Sunday dinner every week." Julia and Eric reconciled years ago when she had her twins, but the relationship remains delicate. They’ve spent most of their adult lives as strangers.
And then there’s the Emma Roberts factor. Eric has been very vocal recently about the "sadness" of his distance from his daughter. He’s a grandfather now—Emma’s son, Rhodes, is growing up—and Eric has spoken about how seeing those kids reminds him of everything he missed out on because of his past choices.
What You Should Take Away
The story of Julia Roberts brother isn't just celebrity gossip. It’s a case study in how addiction can tear a family apart, even when they’re the most famous people on the planet.
If you're looking for the "actionable" part of this, it’s about acknowledging the nuance. Most people want to pick a side—Team Julia or Team Eric. But the truth is Eric was a brilliant actor who lost his way, and Julia was a sister who had to make a heartbreaking choice to protect a child.
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Next Steps to Understand the Roberts Legacy:
- Watch Runaway Train (1985): To understand why he was considered the "next big thing," you have to see him at his peak.
- Read the Memoir: If you want the raw, unpolished version of the feud, Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far is the most honest account available.
- Check Out Lisa Roberts Gillan: People always forget there’s a third sibling. She’s an actor and producer who often works behind the scenes with Julia.
The Roberts family is a reminder that even "America's Sweetheart" has a complicated home life. Fame doesn't fix old wounds; usually, it just makes them itch more in public.