Eric Roberts regrets feud with sister Julia Roberts in new memoir

Eric Roberts is offering his regrets to sister Julia Roberts.
“The Dark Knight” actor opened up about the public feud with his fellow actor and sibling in a new memoir, “Runaway Train,” which includes what he calls a “public apology” to Julia Roberts, he writes.
Named for the 1985 film that earned him Golden Globe and Oscar nods alongside Jon Voight, Roberts’ memoir, “Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far,” was released Monday.
The “Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 star details a “not safe” childhood with their parents, Walter Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus. Roberts said his father was a “screwed-up individual” and was jealous of his career. After their parents’ divorce, Eric Roberts would live with their father, while Julia Roberts lived with their mother, who remarried.
Roberts details his early career, including “Runaway Train” and passing up the role of Jesus in 1988’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” which was also the last opportunity he was offered to work with legendary director Martin Scorsese. Elsewhere, he details how his abuse of drugs, a 1981 car accident and the resulting dayslong coma had an impact on his memory. It was also at this time that Julia Roberts began her acting career and later eclipsed his fame, eliciting comments from Eric Roberts like, “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.”
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“I hope Julia will accept this public apology,” Eric Roberts, 68, now writes. “It was an asinine thing to have said.”
His drug addiction led to a difficult relationship with Julia Roberts, 56, and his half-sister, Nancy Motes, with Eric Roberts writing that it was “dangerous to be around me.” But the “biggest consequence” of his drug use was losing custody of his daughter, Emma Roberts. The custody battle led to a rift with Julia Roberts, who sided with Emma Roberts’ mother, Kim Cunningham. In his memoir, Eric Roberts admits it was ultimately the right move.
“I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad for the rest of my life,” he writes. “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.”
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Earlier this year, Eric Roberts discussed how he “can’t talk about” his sister or daughter in an interview on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast. When host and entertainment journalist Steve Kmetko asked how his sister was doing, the actor replied, “You’ll have to ask her.
“I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her,” Roberts said on the April 1 episode. “And also, my daughter told me not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I’m not supposed to talk about either of them, but I do.”
Later in the episode, when asked which actors he admires, the Oscar nominee replied, “I’m in love with my daughter’s work these days. Like, I can’t believe how great she’s become. I’m so proud of her I can’t see straight.”
Contributing: KiMi Robinson