Eric Roberts' Career Crisis After Devastating Car Accident
Veteran actor Eric Roberts has revealed he believed his acting career was finished at just 27 years old following a traumatic car accident that left him with significant health challenges. The 69-year-old star, older brother of Hollywood icon Julia Roberts, described falling into a profound depression after suffering short-term memory loss and hand-eye coordination difficulties from the crash.
The Dark Period That Almost Ended Everything
During an appearance on the It Happened In Hollywood podcast, Roberts recounted the difficult period. 'It was a really odd, peculiar, hard time for me because the year before that I had an automobile accident and I was in a coma for a little bit,' he explained. 'So I thought my days as an actor were probably over, if not very much numbered and was going through the deepest depression I've ever had in my life.'
The actor's outlook seemed bleak until an unexpected opportunity emerged. His manager received a script for Bob Fosse's 1983 film Star 80 from a casting director who wasn't supposed to share it. Despite Roberts' physical and emotional struggles, his manager encouraged him to pursue the role, knowing his admiration for the legendary director.
An Uninspiring Script With A Golden Opportunity
The film told the true story of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, who was murdered by her husband Paul Snider before he took his own life. Surprisingly, Roberts found the script unappealing. 'I didn't like it because it seemed too black and white to me,' he admitted. 'It seemed too bad guy, good girl, put upon, oppressive. It just seemed too black and white, and it wasn't interesting. Even though it was a true story, it didn't light me up.'
Despite his reservations about the material, Roberts' desire to work with Bob Fosse motivated him to audition for the role of Paul Snider. He dedicated himself to the audition process, appearing before the director five or six times before finally securing the part.
Finding Meaning In A Difficult Character
After three months of intensive research into the role, Roberts developed a deeper understanding of the film's significance. 'Everybody thinks it's an unusual tale because of how it ended, but Paul Sniders are a dime a dozen,' he observed. 'They surround us. They're all around us.'
The actor noted that in Hollywood, people constantly encounter similar personalities characterized by obnoxiousness, ego, and pointless coolness. 'They are not unusual. That's why the story is so valuable. These guys are not unusual... They just don't end up murder suicides. But that goes on all the time.'
A Remarkable Career Revival
Despite his initial fears that his career was finished, Roberts went on to build an impressive filmography with over 700 acting credits. The Runaway Train actor considers himself exceptionally fortunate, telling The Hollywood Reporter: 'We get anywhere from eight to 30 offers every single day from all over the world. It's just so much fun to have all these offers and get to play such an extreme range of characters.'
Family Reflections On Changing Times
Roberts' revelation comes as his famous sister Julia Roberts has also been reflecting on her career choices. Earlier this year, the 58-year-old actress stated she wouldn't star in Pretty Woman if the film were made today, citing changed perspectives and personal growth.
'Oh, it's impossible,' Julia told Deadline. 'I have too many years of the weight of the world inside of me now that I wouldn't be able to kind of levitate in a movie like that... It would be impossible to play someone who was really innocent, in a way.'
The Oscar-winning actress acknowledged shifting cultural attitudes toward the 1990 romantic comedy in which she played prostitute Vivian Ward. 'I think anytime you have a huge passage of time and cultural shifts... Think about all the movies and plays of the '20s and '30s and '40s – you would look at them now and just be like, 'How are people saying these things, doing these things?''
Both Roberts siblings' reflections highlight how personal experiences and evolving societal norms shape artistic choices throughout long careers in the demanding world of Hollywood entertainment.
