Eric (I) Roberts filmography and biography
Date of birth: 18 April 1956, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Eric (I) Roberts biography
One of Hollywood's edgier, more intriguing characters running around and
about for decades, Eric Anthony Roberts started life in Biloxi,
Mississippi, but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his acting
career at age 5 in a local theater company called the "Actors and
Writers Workshop", founded by his late father, Walter Roberts. After
his schooling at Grady High, he studied drama at age 17 in London for
two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, then returned to the
States and continued his studies at the American Academy in New York.
He made his NY stage debut in "Rebel Women" in 1976 at age 20 and
appeared in regional productions, once playing the newspaper boy in a
production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" starring
Shirley Knight (I) and Glenn Close.
After appearing in such daytime soaps as Another World
and How to Survive a Marriage, his career began to
shift fast forward when he copped a leading role in a major film. In
King of the Gypsies, based on Peter Maas'
best-seller about a fracturing dynasty of New York City gypsies, he
made his debut alongside an intimidating roster of stars including
Judd Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Shelley Winters and
Sterling Hayden. Young Eric held his own expertly (winning a
Golden Globe nom) while his burning intensity and brooding charm marked
sure signs of star potential. After this, he won the lead opposite
'Milo OShea in the 1980 stage production of "Mass Appeal". He
suffered serious injuries in a car accident during his nascent film
career but lost no fans by the time he returned to co-star with
Sissy Spacek as a small-town stranger in
Raggedy Man. It was, however, his stark and frightening
portrayal of two-bit hustler "Paul Snider", the cast-off boyfriend who
slays Playmate-turned-movie starlet Dorothy Stratten (played by
Mariel Hemingway) in Star 80 that really put him
on the movie map and earned him a second Golden Globe nomination. A
wide range of fascinating, whacked-out roles were immediately offered
to him on a silver plate. He played another dangerous streetwise
hustler type in The Pope of Greenwich Village opposite
fellow rebel Mickey Rourke; a cocky soda pop sales exec in the
Australian comedy The Coca-Cola Kid; appeared with more
charm and restraint opposite Rosanna Arquette in the offbeat
romantic comedy Nobodys Fool and topped his prolific
period off with an Academy Award nomination as a young prison escapee
hiding out with Jon Voight aboard an out-of-control train in the
ultra-violent, character-driven action adventure
Runaway Train. Good things continued to happen when he
was a replacement lead in the original run of "Burn This" and won a
Theatre World Award for his 1988 Broadway debut.
A risky, no-holds-barred actor, he was often guilty of overacting if
given half the chance. His film career began to slide in the late
1980s, appearing in more quantity than quality pictures. A series of
missteps led to unheralded appearances in such bombs as the
karate-themed Best of the Best; the NY urban thriller
The Ambulance; the action western
Blood Red, which took three years to release and is now
solely remembered for being the only film Eric and superstar sister
Julia Roberts (I) appeared in together; and
Rude Awakening when he filled in as a burned-out hippie
opposite a Chong-less Cheech Marin. More underappreciated "B"
filming came with the 1990s (Freefall,
Sensation, The Nature of the Beast, etc.),
while also chewing the scenery with a number of mobster types in
TV-movies, including one as "Al Capone". He soon began appearing as
flashy secondary villains and creepies that showcased other stars
instead, such as Final Analysis starring
Richard Gere, Heavens Prisoners toplining
Alec Baldwin, and The Dark Knight, part of the
"Batman" series with Christian Bale and the late
Heath Ledger.
Eric's undeniable, unconventional talent would occasionally mesh with
the perfect role. At the Sundance Film Festival in 1996, he received
critical applause for his starring role as a man dying of AIDS in the
uplifting and emotional film Its My Party and earned
more honors as a writer marked for murder in the mob-themed story
La Cucaracha. He was also perfectly cast as one of the
cold-blooded killers in the Emmy-nominated TV adaptation of
Truman Capote's chiller In Cold Blood (1996) (TV). Eric
continued to appear sporadically on TV in such dramatic series as
Law amp; Order: Criminal Intent, while sometimes showing a
fun side as well in comedy (The King of Queens). His
own series work included Less Than Perfect and, more
recently, and in the cult program "Heroes" (2006/II) where
promise for a longer participation ended with his character's death.
Recovered from a long-standing cocaine problem, Eric wed, for the first
time, actress/writer Eliza Roberts (nee Garrett). They have
appeared in such films as Killer Weekend and
Junior Pilot (2005) (V). His daughter from a former
relationship, Emma Roberts (II), is a newly popular and
fast-rising "tween" actress from the series Unfabulous
and has played youthful supersleuth Nancy Drew on film.
Eric's unpredictable, volatile nature which works so mesmerizing on
screen has also led to troubling times off camera; his relationship
with younger sis Julia Roberts (I) has been seriously strained
for quite some time.
Eric (I) Roberts trivia
- Older brother of Julia Roberts (I) and
Lisa Roberts Gillan.
- Before he became a movie star, he appeared in at least two soap operas.
Another World and
How to Survive a Marriage.
- (1981) He was seriously injured in a car accident and spent three days
in a coma.
- Father of Emma Roberts (II), with Kelly Cunningham.
- Brother-in-law of Tony Gillan and Daniel Moder.
- Step-father of Keaton Simons and Morgan Simons
- Appeared with actor Clarence Williams III in Ja Rule music
video "Down ass chick".
- Attended Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
- His left hand ring finger is permanently disfigured, as a result of a
1980s car accident.
- In Doctor Who (1996) (TV), he became the fifth actor to portray
the Master. The evil character had previously been played in the series
Doctor Who by Roger Delgado from 1971 until
1973, Peter Pratt in 1976, Geoffrey Beevers in 1981 and
Anthony Ainley from 1981 until 1989.
- Was chosen to act in Royal Kill when the Wrestling
Choreographer, Ranjan Chhibber, a big "Doctor Who" fan,
suggested to the director Roberts be hired because he loved his
performance as "The Master" in the "Doctor Who" made-for-TV movie on
Fox.
- Has a niece named Hazel Patricia Moder and nephew Phinnaeus Walter
Moder.
- Some of Eric Roberts' boxing moves were once choreographed by actor
Danny Trejo.
- Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2008 Razzie Award nominating
ballot. He was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actor category for his
performance in the film DOA: Dead or Alive, he failed to
receive a nomination however.
- Made just one movie - Blood Red - with sister
Julia Roberts (I).
- After Roger Delgado, Peter Pratt, Geoffrey Beevers,
Anthony Ainley and Gordon Tipple, he is the sixth actor
to play the Master, the Doctor's greatest enemy. He played the role in
Doctor Who (1996) (TV). He was succeeded in the role by Sir
Derek Jacobi and John Simm.
- As a child he was inspired to become an actor after watching 'Robert
Donat''s performance in Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
- Was attached to co-star in Dolph Lundgren's
Command Performance.
- Was trained in Tae Kwon Do and Jujitsu for a short time.
- To date he has filmed movies in over 17 countries (2010).
- Good friends with Stone Cold Steve Austin (IV).
- Lives in Sherman Oaks, California.
- Is a vegan.
- Son-in-law of David Rayfiel.
Eric (I) Roberts quotes
- I do like the idea of putting something comical into an intense drama,
and being intense in absurd circumstances within a comedy.
- My life is going to kill me. We all get angry when we realize that. But
the anger is fear.
- I've had people say to me, "It's such a shame what happened to your
career." I just smile and say I've had a blast. I really have.
- I had a perfect track record up to Rude Awakening. Then
the track record goes bumpy, then it goes bad and I'm ruining myself
with B movies. I've done a lot of shit. But I have reinstated myself.