Eric Roberts is a 70-year-old American actor with roughly 700–800 screen credits, an estimated 2026 net worth between $4 million and $8 million, and a career defined by three Golden Globe nominations and one Academy Award nomination.
He is the older brother of Julia Roberts, the father of Emma Roberts, and a survivor of a near-fatal 1981 car accident that reshaped both his life and his craft. Below, you'll find his verified stats, career timeline, family history, and 2026 updates in one place.
Quick Facts:
| Category | Detail |
| Full Name | Eric Anthony Roberts |
| Born | April 18, 1956, Biloxi, Mississippi |
| Age (2026) | 70 years old |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) — some outlets list 5 ft 11 in |
| Net Worth (2026) | $4 million–$8 million |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse | Eliza Roberts (married 1992) |
| Daughter | Emma Roberts (actress) |
| Siblings | Julia Roberts, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Nancy Motes (half-sister, d. 2014) |
| Notable Nominations | Academy Award, 3x Golden Globe |
| Known For | Runaway Train, Star 80, The Pope of Greenwich Village, The Dark Knight, The Expendables |
Who Is Eric Roberts?
Eric Roberts is a working American actor whose career began in 1977 on the NBC soap opera Another World. He broke through a year later in King of the Gypsies (1978), which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut.
He's since become one of Hollywood's most prolific screen performers. As of early 2026, Roberts is credited with appearances in more than 800 released productions, according to Wikipedia's filmography record — a pace that outstrips nearly every actor of his generation.
He was born to Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts, both actors and playwrights who co-founded an acting workshop in Atlanta. That upbringing shaped an entire family of performers: Julia Roberts, Lisa Roberts Gillan, and Eric's own daughter, Emma Roberts, all followed him into the industry.
Eric Roberts Age, Height, and Physical Stats
How old is Eric Roberts in 2026?
Eric Roberts was born April 18, 1956, making him 70 years old as of August 2026. He's an Aries.
How tall is Eric Roberts?
Most biography databases list Roberts at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm), though a handful of sites round up to 5 ft 11 in. Neither figure comes from an official measurement, so treat this as an estimate rather than a verified stat.
Does Eric Roberts have any distinguishing skills or training?
Beyond acting, Roberts holds a black belt in Taekwondo, a skill he used on-screen in Best of the Best (1989). He trained at both the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Eric Roberts Net Worth in 2026
Eric Roberts' net worth is estimated between $4 million and $8 million, according to a range of financial-tracking outlets including Celebrity Net Worth and CelebsMoney. The spread exists because Roberts works largely in independent film and direct-to-streaming projects rather than blockbuster paydays — high volume, moderate individual fees.
| Income Source | Contribution |
| Film & TV acting (800+ credits) | Primary income driver |
| Dancing with the Stars Season 33 (2024) | Appearance fee + renewed media visibility |
| Memoir, Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far (2024) | Book advance + royalties |
| Voice work and cameo roles | Supplemental income |
For comparison, his sister Julia Roberts' net worth is reported in the hundreds of millions — a gap Roberts himself has acknowledged reflects different career paths within the same industry, not a measure of talent.
Career Highlights: The Films and Shows That Built His Reputation
| Year | Title | Significance |
| 1978 | King of the Gypsies | First Golden Globe nomination |
| 1983 | Star 80 | Second Golden Globe nomination |
| 1985 | Runaway Train | Academy Award + third Golden Globe nomination |
| 1989 | Best of the Best | Showcased his martial arts training |
| 1994 | The Specialist | Major studio action role |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | High-visibility supporting role |
| 2010 | The Expendables | Ensemble action franchise |
| 2024–2026 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, Clika, 3 The Movie | Continued active output past age 68 |
Roberts also earned festival acclaim for It's My Party (1996) and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) at Sundance, plus a Best Actor win at the New York Independent Film Festival for La Cucaracha (1998).
If you're comparing career longevity across generations of actors, Terence Hill's seven-decade filmography offers a useful parallel — both men built careers on sheer output rather than a handful of blockbuster roles.
The 1981 Car Accident That Changed Everything
In 1981, Roberts was in a serious car accident that left him in a three-day coma. He has since said the crash occurred while driving under the influence of cocaine, and that recovery meant relearning how to walk and talk.
The injury left lasting effects, including memory and coordination issues that Roberts has discussed publicly as recently as a 2025 podcast appearance. He's described his pre- and post-accident acting work as noticeably different in tone and instinct.
The years following the crash coincided with a worsening drug addiction, which Roberts has directly linked to the breakdown of his relationships with his sisters and daughter. He got sober in 1995 — a turning point he credits with allowing those relationships to eventually heal.
Family Life: Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, and Eliza Roberts
Is Eric Roberts really Julia Roberts' brother?
Yes. Eric Roberts is Julia Roberts' older brother; they share parents Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts. Their relationship was estranged for roughly a decade before reconciling in 2004.
Why were Eric and Julia Roberts estranged?
Roberts' drug addiction strained his relationships with both his sisters and his daughter Emma throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In his 2024 memoir, he wrote that his family likely experienced fear and instability because of it, and issued a public apology to Julia for a 2018 comment he later called "asinine."
Does Eric Roberts have a relationship with his daughter Emma?
Yes, though it took years to rebuild. Roberts lost custody of Emma as an infant during his struggles with addiction, but has since said their bond, while complicated by public perception, remains close — "I'm so proud of my daughter," he said in a 2025 podcast interview.
Eric married Eliza Roberts in 1992; as of 2026, they've been married 34 years and live in Los Angeles.
Personal Life and 2026 Update
Roberts appeared on Dancing with the Stars Season 33 in 2024, paired with professional dancer Britt Stewart — a run that renewed mainstream interest in his career at age 68. Going into 2026, he has multiple film releases on the calendar, including Clika, 3 The Movie, and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, alongside TBA titles like Divine Direction and 1242: Gateway to the West.
He continues to work at a volume rare for actors his age, adding to a credit count that had already passed 800 by early 2026 — a pace comparable to prolific character actors like Sam Horrigan, who also built a career on steady, varied genre work rather than a small number of tentpole roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Eric Roberts?
Eric Roberts was born April 18, 1956, making him 70 years old as of 2026. He was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. This is based on publicly recorded birth information, not a self-reported figure.
How tall is Eric Roberts?
Eric Roberts is generally listed at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm). A smaller number of sources round this up to 5 ft 11 in. No studio or official record confirms an exact figure, so treat it as an estimate.
What is Eric Roberts' net worth?
Eric Roberts' net worth is estimated between $4 million and $8 million as of 2026. This comes from aggregated estimates by financial-tracking sites like Celebrity Net Worth, not a disclosed personal statement. It reflects decades of steady, mid-tier film and TV work rather than blockbuster paydays.
Is Eric Roberts related to Julia Roberts?
Yes, Eric Roberts is Julia Roberts' older brother. They share the same parents and both grew up around their family's acting school in Atlanta. Their relationship was strained for years but has since been repaired.
What happened to Eric Roberts in his car accident?
In 1981, Eric Roberts was in a car accident that left him in a three-day coma. He has said the crash was linked to drug use at the time and required him to relearn walking and speech. He has described lasting memory and coordination effects from the injury.
Is Eric Roberts still acting in 2026?
Yes. Eric Roberts has multiple film releases dated for 2026, including Clika and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence. He remains one of the most consistently working actors in the industry by total credit volume.
Does Eric Roberts have a good relationship with his daughter Emma Roberts?
Eric Roberts has said his relationship with Emma Roberts is close, despite years of public speculation about estrangement. He has acknowledged past struggles with being emotionally present during her childhood. Both have spoken publicly about reconciling over time.
References
- Eric Roberts filmography — Wikipedia
- Eric Roberts Net Worth — Celebrity Net Worth
- Julia Roberts' brother Eric Roberts' health journey — Hello! Magazine
- Eric Roberts issues public apology to Julia Roberts — TMZ
- Eric Roberts on relationship with Emma Roberts — AOL/Entertainment Weekly
- Eric Roberts upcoming film credits — Movie Insider
