Eric Roberts Speaks Candidly About Relationship with Daughter Emma Roberts
Veteran actor Eric Roberts has provided a rare and intimate glimpse into his relationship with his famous daughter, actress Emma Roberts, addressing what he describes as a "complicated" dynamic that has often been misunderstood by the public. In a recent interview, the 69-year-old star of over 800 film and television projects insisted that while outsiders may perceive their bond as complex, the reality is more nuanced and deeply personal.
A Father's Perspective on Past Struggles and Present Pride
Eric Roberts emotionally recounted the challenging period surrounding Emma's birth, admitting that he was "a wash rag" and "a car wreck" emotionally at the time. He took full responsibility for his past struggles, including substance abuse issues that ultimately led to losing custody of his daughter after his split from Emma's mother, Kelly Cunningham. "I was not to be depended on emotionally because I was a car wreck," Roberts confessed, adding that he had to confront negative patterns from his own father to move forward.
Despite these difficulties, Roberts expressed immense pride in the actress his daughter has become. "I'm so proud of my kid," he shared. "She didn't start off as a great actor, but she became a great actor. She's fabulous and I'm so proud of that." He recalled the first time he saw her perform and thought, "Wow, oh my god, I'm so proud of you."
Early Bonds and Emotional Connections
The actor revealed touching details about forming a connection with Emma even before her birth. He sang "Happy Birthday" to Cunningham's belly every day throughout the pregnancy. When Emma was born, he described the profound moment she recognized his voice. "She comes washing out into my hands basically and she's screaming her head off and I sang 'happy birthday to you' and she stopped screaming and tried to find my face with her little blind eyes," Roberts remembered. "It was the most complete moment, maybe, I have ever had in my life."
He emphasized that they "recognized each other in her first moments of life," calling it "maybe the most incredible thing I've ever been through."
Addressing the 'Complicated' Label and Family Dynamics
When pressed about the "complicated" nature of their relationship, Roberts maintained that this perception exists primarily among outsiders. "It's only complicated to outside eyes because they don't get any of it," he explained. "They have their own take, whatever that is, and it's not a straight line 'cause they aren't really involved." He described external opinions as "just thoughts, possibilities, interests, fantasies" rather than reflections of their actual relationship.
The actor acknowledged a rift in their relationship, particularly noting in 2024 that "probably the loss of relationship with my daughter" represented one of the toughest times of his life. In his memoir Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, he described their dynamic as "indefinable" and expressed sadness about "misunderstandings we'll all have forever."
Grandfatherhood and Reflections on What Was Lost
Becoming a grandfather brought new perspective to Roberts about what he missed in his relationship with Emma. He has two step-grandchildren from his marriage to Eliza Garrett and a grandson from Emma's relationship with Garrett Hedlund. "I started accepting that about myself with the birth of my grandchildren," he said, noting that his eldest granddaughter "looks like Emma which reminds me of what I didn't have."
Family Reconciliation and Sister Julia Roberts
The interview also touched on Roberts' relationship with his famous sister, Julia Roberts, who sided with Cunningham during the custody battle—a decision Eric now agrees with. After years of estrangement largely stemming from his drug addiction, the siblings reconciled in 2004 when Julia gave birth to her twins. "I was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love," Roberts recalled of visiting the hospital.
He addressed past tensions, including a sarcastic comment he made in the early 1990s about Julia's success with Pretty Woman that was taken out of context. "Julia and I have always been fine," he insisted, adding that while they "don't agree about a lot of things," they maintain a close bond. "I love knowing my sister. She's a cool chick, my sister."
Roberts noted that both Emma and Julia have asked him not to discuss them in interviews, though he admitted, "I stumble and do. I'm not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do." He expressed particular joy in seeing the bond between his daughter and sister, telling Us Weekly in 2020, "It's really cool to look at them. I love seeing them together."
Through his candid reflections, Eric Roberts paints a picture of a father-daughter relationship marked by early connection, painful separation, gradual healing, and enduring pride—a dynamic he acknowledges may forever remain somewhat "indefinable" to those outside their family circle.
