Julia Roberts’ brother Eric apologizes for claiming he was responsible for her Oscar-winning career: It was ‘stupid’

Eric Roberts, the brother of Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, has apologised for taking responsibility for her career.

“I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was a stupid thing to say,” he wrote in his upcoming memoir, “Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far,” according to People.

Eric, who is also the father of actress Emma Roberts, has taken credit for his sister’s phenomenal acting career several times over the years.

More recently, she made headlines in 2018 by telling Vanity Fair, “If it weren’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities or as actresses, and I’m very proud of that.”

He added, “And I’m proud of the fact that everybody knows I was the first, because I definitely was the first.”
“I was the first person to get nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, so I’m proud of that.”

He also took credit for getting Julia to join WME in a conversation with Vanity Fair.

Eric, 68, moved to New York City at the age of 17 to pursue a career as an actor. He landed a breakout role in the 1978 film “King of the Gypsies.”

He received his first Oscar nod for his supporting role in the 1985 film “Runaway Train.”

However, her younger sister arrived in New York in 1985 and began a fruitful career that eventually surpassed hers.

She received her first Academy Award nomination for “Steel Magnolias” in 1990, followed by a second nomination for “Pretty Woman” in 1991. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001 for “Erin Brockovich.”

Eric reportedly admitted in his memoir, “I imagine I’ll be Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ father for the rest of my life.”

“I want to own up to this, move forward with pride and dignity. That’s one of the reasons I wrote the book.”

Eric, who struggled with a cocaine addiction after moving to the Big Apple, lost custody of Emma, ​​now 33, when she was a child. He writes that losing the “Scream Queens” star was the “biggest consequence” of his drug abuse.

He also admitted his drug abuse strained his relationship with Julia, 56, and his other sister Lisa, 59.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from the time when it was dangerous to be around me,” he said.

Eric made headlines in July when he said on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast that he couldn’t talk about Julia or Emma.

He said, “I shouldn’t talk about these two. But I do.”

Later in the podcast he added that he is “in love” with his daughter’s work and “so proud of her” [he] I can’t see straight.”

In 2022, he dismissed feud rumors by claiming he and Julia “have always been fine.”

“Me and my sister have always been talking, we’ve always been complaining,” he added.

“We’re always getting to know each other and having fun. That’s it. I love getting to know my sister. She’s a great girl, my sister.”

“Runaway Train” is on sale now.