Eric Roberts opens up in his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, about the challenges of being a father and his relationship with his daughter, actress Emma Roberts. Reflecting on his past, Eric admits he wasn’t prepared for the responsibilities of parenthood when Emma was born, largely due to his struggles with addiction.
Eric recalls his excitement during Emma’s birth. He shared how deeply he fell in love with his daughter the moment he saw her. “I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her belly a lot before she was born. When Emma finally made her appearance, she wasn’t calm, but when I sang to her, she seemed to recognize my voice and settled down,” he said.
However, despite his love for Emma, Eric admits that his personal issues made it difficult to be the father she needed. “I loved my daughter with the strength of Hercules, but I couldn’t handle the realities of being a parent,” he wrote. “I’m still not a traditional father figure. Emma, on the other hand, has embraced that role with her own son, Rhodes.”
Eric also candidly discussed how his addiction affected his role as a father, saying that his drug use was the biggest reason for losing his relationship with Emma early on. He clarifies a long-standing rumor about a supposed custody battle with his sister, Julia Roberts. According to Eric, there was never any fight over custody because he knew he wasn’t in a position to raise Emma on his own. “I never deserved physical custody of Emma. Julia didn’t take sides in a custody battle because there wasn’t one,” he emphasized.
When Eric and Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, separated, Julia helped them financially to cover legal fees. “Julia helped, not out of loyalty to Kelly, but because it was for Emma’s well-being,” Eric explained. His other sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, also wanted to see him get his life together and support his family. “They were both rooting for us to make it work, but stability has to come first. It’s not a child’s job to make you stable.”
Eric acknowledges his daughter and sister’s success, noting that he will always be seen as “Julia’s brother” and “Emma Roberts’ dad.” Despite being asked not to discuss them publicly, Eric can’t help but express his admiration. “I’m proud of Emma and Julia for all they’ve achieved. Writing this book is part of my way to move aside gracefully and celebrate them.”
Today, Eric remains focused on his family’s happiness and is happy to have a small role in Emma’s life. He says his daughter allows him to engage with her a bit on social media, which is a meaningful way to connect, given the complexities of fame and the pressures it brings.
With this memoir, Eric hopes to share his story honestly, owning up to his past mistakes, while also celebrating his family’s strength and resilience.