Hollywood star opens up about abandoning his daughter at 7 months — “I couldn’t handle being a parent”
The Hollywood star reflects on past mistakes, addiction, and his daughter Emma Roberts' rise to fame.
Eric Roberts was one of the most magnetic actors of the 1980s — but behind the fame, he made a heartbreaking choice that changed his life forever. At just seven months old, he walked away from his daughter.
Eric Roberts had it all in the ’80s — smoldering looks, undeniable talent, and a string of hit films that earned him Golden Globe nominations. Born in Mississippi in 1956, Roberts rose to fame with roles in King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Runaway Train. Hollywood couldn’t get enough of him.
But while his star was rising, his personal life was falling apart.
In 1991, Roberts became a father to a baby girl named Emma, with his then-partner Kelly Cunningham. But just seven months later, he made a painful decision.
“I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old,” he admitted in his 2024 memoir Runaway Train. “I couldn’t handle the realities of an infant coming into my life, and I couldn’t handle being a parent.”
At the time, Roberts was struggling with drug addiction. His relationship with Kelly collapsed, and she was granted full custody of Emma.
Julia Roberts’ surprising role in the family split
During the custody proceedings, Eric’s sister — Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts — stepped in to help Kelly, sparking rumors of a family feud. But Eric says the truth was more complicated.
“There really was no custody fight,” he wrote. “Julia never sided with Kelly against me. She helped financially — for Emma’s sake and because she could afford to. I deeply appreciated it.”
While Eric battled addiction, Emma Roberts was raised by her mother and occasionally visited her famous aunt Julia on film sets. Watching movies being made inspired her to follow in the family footsteps.
“I remember it feeling like summer camp, just the feeling of creativity,” Emma once shared about her early visits to the set of Erin Brockovich.
Today, Emma Roberts is a star in her own right, known for roles in American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and We’re the Millers. But when asked about her father, she once gave a quiet but telling response: “Um… how do I say this? No, we’re not [close].”
Father seeking redemption
Now 69 years old and sober, Eric Roberts is reflective about the years he lost and the people he hurt.
“For many years, I was a practicing drug addict. So a lot of people were alienated — especially the family,” he told Today. “I owe them a lot because they love me.”
Despite the distance, Roberts never stopped loving his daughter. On her birthday, he once posted a photo of Emma as a toddler, writing, “The love on my face, even in profile, for her is undeniable… I knew she’d grow up to be all that and more. I love you, Emma.”
“Addicts aren’t bad guys”
Eric Roberts now uses his story to help others. “The only way to be a good example is to get through being a casualty,” he says. “Addicts aren’t bad guys. They’re just making a mistake.”
He believes Emma is more than equipped to navigate Hollywood, saying, “She has more tools at her disposal to build a safe place around herself than I ever did.”
Eric Roberts may no longer live in the spotlight like he once did, but he’s found something deeper than fame: clarity, forgiveness, and hope.
He may have missed his daughter’s childhood, but today, he’s watching her with quiet pride — not as a celebrity, but as a father who finally knows what matters most.
