Actor Eric Roberts offers ‘public apology’ to sister Julia Roberts

Eric Roberts has apologised to his famous sister for past comments he made about her which reportedly caused a years-long divide.

Eric Roberts would like to clear the air.

The actor, 68, is apologising to sister Julia Roberts, 56, for saying he is responsible for her successful career.

Eric issued the public apology in his new memoir, Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far.

The latest Dancing With The Stars contestant was already a successful actor when his younger sister moved to New York in 1985 to pursue an acting career of her own. He also happened to be in the throes of cocaine addiction at the time.

Eric, who is also actress Emma Roberts’ father, has taken credit for his sister and daughter’s stardom on more than one occasion.

“If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses,” he told Vanity Fair in 2018, adding, “and I’m very proud of that.”

But now, Eric is changing his tune.

“I hope Julia will accept this public apology,” he writes in Runaway Train, according to People. “It was an asinine thing to have said.”

Eric Roberts and Julia Roberts pictured in 1985. Picture: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

He went on to say that he believes his drug addiction damaged his relationship with Julia and his other sister, Lisa, when they were younger.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from when it was dangerous to be around me,” he admitted. “Lisa and Julia needed love and protection — instead they got fear and uncertainty.”

However, the Dark Knight actor said his addiction hurt his relationship with his daughter more than anyone else.

“Of course, the biggest consequence of my drug use was losing Emma,” he shared, alluding to the custody battle he fought and lost with Emma’s mum, Kelly Cunningham. Eric and Cunningham split when Emma was a baby.

The custody dispute also happened to be the beginning of his estrangement with Julia, as she took Cunningham’s side in the proceedings. Though Eric didn’t go into detail about that moment, he wrote that his ex getting custody of Emma was the right decision.

“I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’d like to make good on that, to move aside proudly and with grace. That’s part of the reason for writing the book.”

Eric is the older brother of Julia. Picture: Robyn BECK

He is also father to successful actress Emma Roberts. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images via AFP

It’s not clear how close Eric is with Emma and Julia these days, though the Runaway Train actor has shared how proud he is of his daughter’s work, while also admitting that both his sister and Emma don’t like him to mention them in interviews.

“I’m in love with my daughter’s work these days,” Eric said on the Still Here Hollywood podcast in July. “I can’t believe how great she’s become.”

“I’m so proud of her I can’t see straight,” he continued. “Since her performance in Maybe I Do until right now, she overwhelms me with pride and just, ‘Oh my God, here she goes again.’ And I’m just so happy to be her dad, because she’s kicking ass. And I’m so proud.”

It’s understood Julia is estranged from Eric. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

When asked about how Julia was doing, he stayed tight-lipped.

“You’ll have to ask her,” Roberts replied. “I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her. She [doesn’t] wanna talk about it.”

“My daughter told me also not, not to talk about her, but I stumble and do,” he said of Emma. “I’m not supposed to talk about them. But I do.”

Asked at the time if he’s responsible for Emma’s success, he replied, “Absolutely nothing. Except I gave her that name.”

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Actor Eric Roberts offers ‘public apology’ to sister Julia Roberts