| Eric Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eric Anthony Roberts April 18, 1956 Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Eliza Garrett (m. 1992–present) |
| Children | Emma Roberts |
Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies (1978), earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case. He earned both a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in Runaway Train (1985). Through the 1990s and 2000s he maintained dramatic film and TV-movie roles while appearing in TV series. His television work includes three seasons with the sitcom Less Than Perfect and a recurring role on the NBC drama Heroes. His sisters Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan, and daughter Emma Roberts, are also actors.
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Eric got his start on the now defunct NBC daytime soap opera Another World originating the role of Ted Bancroft from February 14, 1977, to June 17, 1977.
Roberts received Golden Globe nominations for his early starring roles in King of the Gypsies (1978) and Star 80 (1983). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for his role as the escaped convict Buck in the film Runaway Train. In 1987, he won the Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut performance in Burn This.
Roberts's other starring roles included Raggedy Man (1981), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), The Coca-Cola Kid (1985), Nobody's Fool (1986), Best of the Best (1989), By the Sword (1991), Best of the Best 2 (1993), The Immortals (1995), La Cucaracha (1998), Purgatory (1999), and Stiletto Dance (2001). He also had major supporting roles in Final Analysis (1992), The Specialist (1994), and the film Shannon's Rainbow (2009). He played the Archangel Michael in The Prophecy II (1997).
In 1996, he appeared in the Doctor Who Television film in the role of the fourth Master. As of 2011, he is the only American actor to play the role. When SFX listed previous Masters in Doctor Who, the magazine said of Roberts: "Out-acted by a CGI snake in the same production."
His recent projects include A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, DOA: Dead or Alive and Royal Kill. He appeared in The Dark Knight as Sal Maroni, a Gotham City Mafia boss who hires The Joker to kill the titular superhero and a renegade mob accountant.[1]
Roberts co-starred on the ABC situation comedy Less than Perfect. He appeared in an episode of CSI: Miami as Ken Kramer, a murderer on death row convicted of killing a young couple. Another notable TV appearance was the episode "Victims" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit where he played Sam Winfield, a former cop turned vigilante. In the same year, he was also guest starred on The L Word as Gabriel McCutcheon, the father of Shane McCutcheon. In early January 2007, Roberts starred in the two-part mini-series Pandemic as the mayor of Los Angeles.
Roberts voiced the Superman villain Mongul in the animated series Justice League and reprised his role in Justice League Unlimited in the episode "For the Man Who Has Everything". He performed the voice of Dark Danny in Nickelodeon's Danny Phantom. He appeared in the first season of Heroes as Thompson, an associate of Mr. Bennet.[2] He then reprised the role in the third-season episode "Villains" and in the fourth-season "The Wall".
Roberts appeared in The Killers music video for their song "Mr. Brightside" as well as in the music videos for Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" and "It's Like That". In 2006, he appeared in the video for Akon's "Smack That", featuring Eminem. In 2007, he appeared in the video for Godhead's "Hey You". He appeared as a panelist on the television game show Hollywood Squares. In February 2009, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, who starred with Roberts in The Pope of Greenwich Village, said he hoped that Roberts would soon be offered a role which would resurrect his career in the way that The Wrestler rejuvenated Rourke's.[3]
He portrayed Seth Blanchard on the second season of the Starz series, Crash, from 2009. In 2009, Roberts appeared as himself in "Tree Trippers", a season five episode of Entourage. He is portrayed as a mushroom and drug fanatic as he gives the boys mushrooms and joins them to Joshua Tree National Park to trip as they contemplate Vince's next movie decision. It was announced in June 2010 that he would be joining the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless starting July 12.[4] In 2010, he appeared in the action film The Expendables. Later that year, he appeared alongside Steve Austin and Gary Daniels, his co-stars from The Expendables, in the 2010 action film Hunt to Kill. December 2010 saw the premiere of the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which documented Roberts' struggle with addiction to marijuana.
Roberts' daughter Emma Roberts, with his then-girlfriend Kelly Cunningham, was born on February 10, 1991. Emma eventually became an actress as well, making her film debut at age 9 in the 2001 drama Blow. After Roberts' relationship with Cunningham, he married Eliza Garrett in 1992. His stepson, Keaton Simons, is a singer-songwriter and his stepdaughter, Morgan Simons, is a chef.[5]
On January 12, 2001, Roberts visited The Howard Stern Radio Show with his wife during a segment called "The Gossip Game" with Mike Walker of the National Enquirer. He confirmed that he and his sister Julia Roberts had been estranged for several years. The source of the estrangement had been his past drug abuse and her siding with his ex-girlfriend over the custody of his daughter Emma Roberts. In 2004, he told People magazine that he and his sister reconciled when he visited her in the hospital after she gave birth to twins.[6]
In 1987, Roberts was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana and resisting arrest after he tried to assault a New York police officer.[7] He spent 36 hours in jail, pleaded guilty to harassment, and had all other charges dropped.[8]
In February 1995, Roberts was arrested for shoving his wife, Eliza Garrett, into a wall.[7] He subsequently announced that he was giving up drug use entirely.[8]
Roberts appeared as a cast member in the fourth season of the Vh1 reality television series Celebrity Rehab, for a dependency on medical marijuana.[9] His wife, Eliza and his stepson, Keaton Simons, appeared in Episode 6 to discuss the effects of his addiction on their lives.[10]
An episode of the satiric cartoon series South Park featured Roberts as a star in a re-enactment of America's Most Wanted. He plays the genetically engineered half-man, half-monkey sidekick of the character Mephisto. The portrayal is less than kind, depicting Roberts as a washed-up overactor. During the re-enactment's taping, a snowstorm forces a group of characters to resort to cannibalism, and they quickly decide on Roberts because "nobody gives a shit about Eric Roberts".
He was also name-checked in an episode of Seinfeld; after giving away the ending of the film, Kramer tells George that Roberts' performance as the husband in the film The Other Side of Darkness was "unforgettable".
He was portrayed as a clay figure on MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch where he fought alongside his sister, Julia, against Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond.
Roberts was parodied in the web cartoon series College University, participating in a martial arts competition for washed-up action stars. He never got to compete, though, as the Transformer Optimus Prime knocked him out and stole his name tag. Although in writing he was dubbed Eric Roberts, throughout the entire episode everybody referred to him as "Julia Roberts' Brother". The cartoon can be viewed at College University Character Bios.[11]
Roberts was mentioned by Pearl Forrester and Leonard Maltin in Mystery Science Theater 3000 - in the Gorgo episode (episode 9, season 9) – as the perfect companion to Mickey Rourke for producing the "worst movie ever made."
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | King of the Gypsies | Dave | Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut - Male | |
| 1980 | Paul's Case | Paul | ||
| 1981 | Raggedy Man | Teddy | ||
| 1983 | Star 80 | Paul Snider | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama |
|
| 1983 | Miss Lonelyhearts | Miss Lonelyhearts | Television film | |
| 1984 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Paulie | ||
| 1985 | The Coca-Cola Kid | Becker | ||
| 1986 | Runaway Train | Buck | Nominated: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture |
|
| 1986 | Slow Burn | Jacob Asch | Television film | |
| 1986 | Nobody's Fool | Riley | ||
| 1988 | To Heal a Nation | Jan Scruggs, with Glynnis O'Connor as Becky Scruggs, and Marshall Colt as Jack Wheeler | Television film | |
| 1989 | Best of the Best | Alex Grady | ||
| 1989 | Blood Red | Marco Collogero | Filmed in 1986, but released only three years later.[12][13] Noteworthy for featuring Julia Roberts (Eric's sister) in her film debut and one of her first film roles.[14][15] |
|
| 1989 | Rude Awakening | Fred | ||
| 1990 | The Ambulance | Josh Baker | ||
| 1990 | The Lost Capone | Al Capone | Television film | |
| 1990 | Descending Angel | Michael Rossi | Television film | |
| 1991 | Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride | Sean McLeary | Television film | |
| 1991 | Lonely Hearts | Frank | ||
| 1991 | By the Sword | Alexander Villard | ||
| 1992 | Fugitive Among Us | Cal Harper | Television film | |
| 1992 | Final Analysis | Jimmy Evans | ||
| 1993 | Best of the Best 2 | Alex Grady | ||
| 1993 | Love Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage | Joe Bonanno Jr. | Television film | |
| 1993 | Voyage | Gil Freeland | Television film | |
| 1993 | Love, Cheat & Steal | Reno Adams | ||
| 1994 | Babyfever | Anthony | ||
| 1994 | Freefall | Grant Orion | ||
| 1994 | Love Is a Gun | Jack Hart | ||
| 1994 | Sensation | Dr. Ian Burton | ||
| 1994 | The Specialist | Tomas Leon | ||
| 1994 | The Hard Truth | Dr. Chandler Etheridge | ||
| 1995 | The Nature of the Beast | Adrian | ||
| 1995 | The Immortals | Jack | ||
| 1995 | Saved by the Light | Dannion Brinkley | Television film | |
| 1996 | Power 98 | Karlin Pickett | ||
| 1996 | The Grave | Cass | ||
| 1996 | It's My Party | Nick Stark | ||
| 1996 | Doctor Who | The Master/Bruce | Television film | |
| 1996 | Heaven's Prisoners | Bubba Rocque | ||
| 1996 | The Cable Guy | Himself | ||
| 1996 | Dark Angel | Walter D'Arcangelo | Television film | |
| 1996 | American Strays | Martin | ||
| 1996 | The Glass Cage | Montrachet | ||
| 1996 | Past Perfect | Dylan Cooper | ||
| 1996 | The Drew Carey Show | Steven | Television episode "Drew's Other Man" | |
| 1996 | In Cold Blood | Perry Smith | Television miniseries Nominated: Satellite Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film |
|
| 1996 | Public Enemies | Arthur Danlop | Television film | |
| 1997 | Frasier | Chet | Television episode, voice role "Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead" | |
| 1997 | The Odyssey | Eurymachus | Television miniseries | |
| 1997 | Most Wanted | Assistant Deputy Director Spencer | ||
| 1997 | Oz | Richard L'Italien | Television episode "Capital P" | |
| 1997 | T.N.T. | Russo | ||
| 1997-98 | C-16: FBI | John Olansky | Television series (13 episodes) | |
| 1998 | The Prophecy II | Michael | ||
| 1998 | The Shadow Men | Bob Wilson | ||
| 1998 | False Pretense | Henry Smolensky | also known as Dead End | |
| 1998 | La Cucaracha | Walter Pool | ||
| 1999 | Purgatory | Blackjack Britton | Television film | |
| 1999 | BitterSweet | Mr. Venti | ||
| 1999 | Lansky | Ben Siegel (age 40) | Television film | |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | Nick Stratton | Television episode "Made in the U.S.A" | |
| 1999 | Restraining Order | Robert Woodfield | ||
| 1999 | Wildflowers | Jacob | ||
| 1999 | Spawn | Petey | Television episode; voice role "The Mindkiller" | |
| 1999 | Facade | Colin Wentworth | ||
| 1999 | Two Shades of Blue | Calvin Stasi | ||
| 1999 | Heaven's Fire | Dean McConnell | Television film | |
| 1999 | Hitman's Run | Tony Lazorka/John Dugan | ||
| 1999 | The Hunger | Jean | Television episode "The Dream Sentinel" | |
| 2000 | The Beatnicks | Mack Drake | ||
| 2000 | Sanctimony | Lieutenant | Television film | |
| 2000 | No Alibi | Victor Haddock/Stanley Joiner | ||
| 2000 | Luck of the Draw | Carlo | ||
| 2000 | The Alternate | The Replacement | ||
| 2000 | Falcone | Raymond 'The Madman' Ricci | Television series (4 episodes) | |
| 2000 | Cecil B. DeMented | Honey's Ex | ||
| 2000 | Tripfall | Mr. Eddie | ||
| 2000 | Race Against Time | James Gabriel | Television film | |
| 2000 | The King's Guard | Augustus Talbert | ||
| 2000 | Mercy Streets | Rome | ||
| 2001 | Strange Frequency | Bob Henry | ||
| 2001 | The King of Queens | Strohmeyer | Television episode "Paint Misbehavin" | |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sam Winfield | Television episode "Victims" | |
| 2001 | Mindstorm | David Mendez | ||
| 2001 | Stiletto Dance | Kit Adrian | Television film | |
| 2001 | Fast Sofa | Robinson | ||
| 2001 | Walking Shadow | Police Chief DeSpain | Television film | |
| 2001 | Frozen in Fear | Sean | Television film | |
| 2001 | Raptor | Sheriff Jim Tanner | ||
| 2001 | Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534 | First Officer Mike Hogan | Television film | |
| 2001 | Con Games | Officer Hopkins | ||
| 2002 | Endangered Species | Police Lt. Mike 'Sully' Sullivan | ||
| 2002 | Roughing It | The Foreman | Television film | |
| 2002 | Wrong Number | Josh Grey | ||
| 2002 | Spun | The Man | ||
| 2002 | Breakaway | Jimmy Scalzetti | ||
| 2002 | Wolves of Wall Street | Dyson Keller | ||
| 2002-05 | Less than Perfect | Will Butler | Television (59 episodes) Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy |
|
| 2002 | Justice League and Justice League Unlimited | Mongul (voice) | Television (3 episodes) | |
| 2003 | Intoxicating | Teddy | ||
| 2003 | National Security | Nash | ||
| 2003 | The Long Ride Home | Sheriff Hank Bowman | ||
| 2003 | L.A. Confidential | Pierce Patchett | TV pilot | |
| 2004 | Killer Weekend | Jack Talbot | ||
| 2004 | Miss Cast Away | Maximus Powers | ||
| 2004 | Six: The Mark Unleashed | Dallas | ||
| 2004 | Border Blues | Coyote Larry | ||
| 2005 | Final Approach | Coach Davis | ||
| 2005 | Confessions of an Action Star | Police Chief | also known as Sledge: The Untold Story | |
| 2005 | Break a Leg | Michael Richard Lange | ||
| 2005 | Graves End | Tarkington Alexander Graves | ||
| 2005 | Danny Phantom | Dark Danny (voice) | ||
| 2005 | CSI: Miami | Ken Kramer | Television episode "Whacked" | |
| 2005 | The Civilization of Maxwell Bright | Arlis | ||
| 2006 | 8 of Diamonds | Charlie Klamanski | ||
| 2006 | Phat Girlz | Robert Myer | ||
| 2006 | A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints | Older Antonio | ||
| 2006 | Hollywood Dreams | Thomas Kurt | ||
| 2006 | One Way | Nick Swell | ||
| 2006 | DOA: Dead or Alive | Donovan | ||
| 2006-07 | The L Word | Gabriel McCutcheon | Television (3 episodes) | |
| 2006 | Fatal Desire | Joe | Television film | |
| 2006 | Aurora | Mr. Brown | ||
| 2007 | Pandemic | Mayor Dalesandro | Television film | |
| 2007 | Heroes | Agent Thompson | Television (8 episodes) | |
| 2008 | Light Years Away | Dr. Howard Melvin | ||
| 2008 | Witless Protection | Wilford Duvall | ||
| 2008 | Fear Itself | Harry Siegal/Harry Bender | Television episode "Spooked" | |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Roy Hubert | Television episode "Betrayed" | |
| 2008 | Dark Honeymoon | L.A. Guy | ||
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Salvatore Maroni | ||
| 2008 | Depth Charge | Commander Krieg | Television film | |
| 2008 | The Cleaner | Ray Crin | Television episode "Here Comes the Boom" | |
| 2008 | Entourage | Himself | Television episode "Tree Trippers" | |
| 2008 | Cyclops | Emperor Tiberius | Television film | |
| 2009 | In the Blink of an Eye | Captain Jones | ||
| 2009 | The Steam Experiment | Grant | ||
| 2009 | Rock Slyde | Jake the Deliveryman | ||
| 2009 | Royal Kill | Dad | ||
| 2009 | Shannon's Rainbow | Mitchell Prescott | ||
| 2009 | Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia | Vaslov | ||
| 2009 | The Whole Truth | Yaro Maroslav | ||
| 2009 | The Butcher | Merle Hench | ||
| 2009 | Project Solitude | John Sola | ||
| 2009 | Crash | Seth Blanchard | Television (13 episodes) | |
| 2010 | Crimes of the Past | Robert Byrne | ||
| 2010 | Westbrick Murders | John | ||
| 2010 | The Expendables | James Munroe | ||
| 2010 | Sharktopus | Dr. Nathan Sands | Television film | |
| 2010 | Enemies Among Us | Cobbs | ||
| 2010 | Chuck | Packard | Television episode "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" | |
| 2010 | Hunt to Kill | Lee Davis | ||
| 2010 | First Dog | President of the United States | ||
| 2011 | Silver Case | Senator | ||
| 2011 | Spreading Darkness | Stu Undercoffler | ||
| 2011 | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Andy Armus | Television episode "The Time Is Now" | |
| 2011 | Chillerama | General Bukkake | Segment "Wadzilla"[16] | |
| 2011 | Dante's Inferno Animated | Dante | ||
| 2012 | Deadline | Ronnie Bullock |