So, you're looking for Julia Roberts brothers name. It's a simple search, right? The answer is Eric Roberts. But honestly, if you just stop at the name, you’re missing out on one of the most intense, messy, and eventually redemptive stories in Hollywood history.
Most people know Julia as the "America’s Sweetheart" with the billion-dollar smile. Her brother, Eric, is a different story entirely. He’s the guy who was a massive star before Julia even landed her first audition. He’s also the guy who basically didn't speak to her for nearly two decades.
It’s a wild ride.
Who Exactly Is Eric Roberts?
Born Eric Anthony Roberts on April 18, 1956, he’s about eleven years older than Julia. While she was still a kid in Smyrna, Georgia, Eric was already becoming a serious "it" boy in New York and L.A.
He didn't just get lucky. The guy has serious acting chops. We're talking about someone who has been nominated for an Oscar (for Runaway Train in 1985) and three Golden Globes. If you’ve watched The Dark Knight, you know him as the mob boss Sal Maroni. If you’ve seen The Expendables, he’s the villain. He is also, quite literally, one of the most hardworking actors alive—he has over 700 credits to his name.
- That's not a typo.
He works constantly. But for a long time, the only thing people wanted to talk about wasn't his work—it was the massive rift between him and his sister.
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The Feud That Split the Family Apart
It’s kinda tragic when you look back at it. In the late 80s and early 90s, Eric was struggling. Hard. He’s been very open lately—especially in his 2024 memoir Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far—about his issues with drug addiction.
He admitted he was "exhausting to be around." He was "complainy" and "blamey."
The breaking point came in 1993. Eric was in a nasty custody battle with his then-girlfriend, Kelly Cunningham, over their daughter, Emma Roberts. In a move that shocked everyone, Julia actually funded Kelly’s legal fees against her own brother.
She sided against him.
That was it. The bridge was burned. For years, if you asked about Julia Roberts brothers name, you'd get the name, but you'd also get a "they don't talk" attached to it.
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The Long Road to Making Amends
Families are weird. Sometimes it takes something huge to fix what's broken. For the Roberts siblings, that "something" was the birth of Julia's twins, Phinnaeus and Hazel, in 2004.
Eric showed up at the hospital. He wanted to be an uncle. Julia welcomed him in. Just like that, the ice started to melt.
Recently, Eric has been on a bit of an apology tour, and it feels genuine. He used to famously say in interviews, "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts." He meant that he paved the way for her in Hollywood. Today? He calls that statement "asinine."
He’s admitted that his sister and his daughter (Emma Roberts, who is a huge star in her own right now) both succeeded because of their own talent, not because of him. He even says he’s "not allowed" to talk about Julia in interviews because she values her privacy so much, though he clearly can't help but gush about how proud he is of her.
Beyond the Names: The Roberts Family Tree
It’s not just Eric and Julia. There’s a whole lot of talent in that DNA.
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- Lisa Roberts Gillan: Their sister. She’s also an actress and producer. You might have spotted her in small roles in Julia’s movies like Runaway Train or Mona Lisa Smile.
- Emma Roberts: Eric’s daughter and Julia’s niece. She’s the American Horror Story and Scream Queens icon.
- Walter and Betty Lou: Their parents. They ran an acting and writing workshop in Atlanta. Fun fact: Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.’s kids actually attended their acting school. The Kings even helped pay for the workshop when things got tight.
What You Should Take Away From This
Knowing Julia Roberts brothers name is just the entry point. The real story is about how fame, addiction, and ego can tear a family to pieces—and how time and new life (like those twins in 2004) can actually put it back together.
If you’re following this family today, here is the current status:
- They are reconciled. They aren't the "best friends" the media sometimes portrays, but they are in each other's lives.
- They value privacy. Julia is notoriously protective of her personal life. Eric has learned (mostly) to respect that "no-talk" rule.
- The legacy continues. Between Julia, Eric, and Emma, the Roberts name is basically Hollywood royalty at this point.
If you're interested in the gritty details of how Eric views his past mistakes, his 2024 memoir is actually a surprisingly humble read. It’s a rare look at a celebrity taking 100% of the blame for a family fallout.
Next time you see Eric Roberts popping up in a random movie—and trust me, he will, he's in everything—you'll know he's more than just "Julia's brother." He's a guy who lost his way, lost his family, and spent the last two decades trying to earn them back.
Actionable Insight: If you want to see the siblings on screen together, check out the 1989 film Blood Red. It's one of the few times they shared the frame before the decades of silence began. It’s a fascinating time capsule of two massive talents before the world (and their own drama) changed them forever.