Eric Roberts (Eric Anthony Roberts): filmography, biography and personal life (photo)

Today, the hero of our narrative will be the popular Hollywood actor Eric Roberts. During his career, he starred in more than 250 films. Also interesting that his younger sister is the world famous Julia Roberts, with whom, however, Eric does not currently communicate. So, we offer a closer look at the career and personal life of the actor.

Eric Roberts: Biography

The future Hollywood celebrity was born on April 18, 1956 in the city of Biloxi, located in the US state of Mississippi. His father Walter was a director and directed the creative laboratory. Mother was not a professional actress, however she was always fascinated by the theater. Little Eric suffered from stuttering, but when he learned any text by heart, how this ailment disappeared without a trace. The attentive father quickly noticed this peculiarity of his son and created for him a television drama called "Little Pioneers." In this project, Erik debuted for the first time on the screen, playing the role of a crippled boy.

Eric Roberts in his youth

The real interest in cinema for the future famous actor was awakened at the age of 11 after watching the movie "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." The great game of Robert Donat so impressed Eric that the choice of his future profession was predetermined. Since the work of Roberts Sr. was related to the relocation, the whole family often traveled from state to state. During this time, Erik managed to take part in several productions on the amateur stage. Relations between Roberts's parents gradually deteriorated, they quarreled strongly. Trying to escape from the family drama, Eric began to be friends with the guys older than himself, who addicted him to drugs.

When Roberts, Jr. turned 14 years old, his mother left his father for another man. Eric never could forgive her for this deed. Parental divorce became a great stress for the boy. Furious at the whole world, he began to get involved in fights, in connection with which he often found himself in the police. The only outlet left by Eric was the theater. Father clearly saw in his son great acting talents, and therefore decided to give him the appropriate education. So, at the age of sixteen, Eric went to England to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Early career in film

After graduation, Roberts returned to his homeland, where he was immediately offered a role in the television series "The Other World." This was in 1976. Despite the fact that the series was not particularly popular, the work of the young actor was quickly noticed by both critics and spectators. And in a couple of years he was offered to play in the sensational film "The King of the Gypsies".

Accident

However, after successful work, the films with Eric Roberts did not appear on the screens for several years. The fact is that in 1981 the actor got into a car accident, as a result of which he received a severe craniocerebral injury and severely injured his face. For several days his life was literally hanging by a thread. After the danger was over, the doctors predicted partial or even complete paralysis to Roberts for the rest of his life. However, the actor began to move a month later, and after several operations he got on his feet and found his former appearance.

Return to the screens and the continuation of the film career

Actor Eric Roberts, after a disaster, first appeared on the big screen in 1983. It was a movie called "Star-80", in which he played a psychopath named Paul Snyder. Roberts was so convincing in this role that the filmmakers from now on began to invite him exclusively to the role of negative characters.

The next significant event in the career of the actor can be called participation in the filming of the film by Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky under the title "Fugitive train". In this picture, Eric brilliantly played in the company of John Wojta and Rebecca De Mornay.

By the end of the 80's, the actor was already a full-fledged Hollywood star. Films with Eric Roberts at that time included such popular films as "Kokakolshchik", "Slow Fire", "Sudden Awakening", "Red as Blood", "Best of the Best" and others.

The 90s

During this period, the actor was very popular. On the big screen there were always films with his participation. Among them you can note such works as "Lonely Hearts", "Best of the Best 2", "Final Analysis", "Specialist" and "Free Fall".

Roberts was for the most part given the role of villainous psychopaths, which could not but affect his sensitive nervous system. As a result, he was excessively carried away by drugs and women, which affected the career and business connections of the actor in the most unfavorable way. However, Eric recovered himself in time: he underwent a drug dependence treatment program. And in 1997 appeared in front of the audience in a new role for himself "a good guy." It was the role of John Olansky in the popular TV series "S-16: FBI."

At the peak of popularity: 2000 years

With the advent of the new millennium Roberts began to appear very often in television series, which, however, did not in any way damage his career in the big cinema. The actor can be seen in the comedic sitcom "Klava, come on!", And also in "CSI: Miami". As for films, the most memorable works of Roberts were the films "Intoxication" and "National Security". It should be noted that the actor was happy to take part in the films of various genres: the militants, comedies, dramas, and thrillers. And all the roles worked equally well for him.

The actor was very fond of Russian talent and multiculturalism for Russian filmmakers. So, in 2003 he played one of the main roles in the series of Russian-American production called "Russian in the city of angels". With the project director Rodion Nakhapetov, Roberts has a long-term and fruitful cooperation. So, in 2004, he starred in his tape "Border Blues", and in 2008 - in the thriller "Infestation." During the work on the paintings Erik several times came to Russia, which, he said, was very fond of.

Personal life of the actor

The death of Robert the Elder was a big blow for Eric. In search of solace, the 23-year-old began to meet with actress Sandy Davis. Eric's lover was almost twice his age. It is possible that subconsciously Roberts saw in her not only a companion, but also a kind of substitute for the mother with whom he had a complex relationship. Their relationship lasted until the mid-80's.

After the novel with Davis, Erik had several fleeting passions. This lasted until he became acquainted with the actress Kelly Cunningham, who became his first wife. However, their relationship, at first very passionate, did not stand the test of time, and eventually ended in mutual hatred. According to Roberts, the affair with Kelly was the biggest mistake in his life. In marriage, they had a daughter, Emma. The actor left the family immediately after her birth.

The second time Roberts married in 1991 on an actress named Eliza Gerrett. Since then, Eric's personal life has brought harmony: the couple are happy to this day in marriage. Eliza, like her husband, is a lot of films, and in part is also a personal manager of Roberts.

As for Eric's daughter from her first marriage, Emma, she also followed in the footsteps of her parents and has already starred in several TV series and films.