Julia Roberts’ twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus, unknowingly played a role in reuniting their mother with her estranged brother, Eric Roberts.
Eric, who is ten years older than Julia and has a prolific career with over 700 film credits, initially supported Julia in her early career, notably starring alongside her in 1989’s Blood Red.
However, their relationship soured for over a decade following personal challenges Eric faced, including addiction issues and a custody battle after the birth of his daughter Emma Roberts in 1991. Julia’s involvement in supporting Emma’s mother during this time strained her relationship with Eric even further.
Eric, speaking about it with Vanity Fair in 2018, shared: “I wouldn’t characterize it as a falling-out,” before maintaining: “I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness. We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.”
Still, recalling the height of his drug addiction, he admitted: “I was exhausting to be around,” noting he was “complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment. Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia.”
It wasn’t until ten years later in November 2004, when Julia welcomed her twins with husband Danny Moder, that Eric’s visit to the hospital with his wife Eliza Garrett, who he married in 1992, turned into more of an olive branch than he ever expected.
Recalling how he went to the hospital simply to drop off gifts, he revealed: “Instead I was ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love.” He also shared that they have since enjoyed several family holidays together, and are now “email buddies.”
During an appearance on July 8 on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, when asked how Julia is doing, he shared: “I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her,” adding: “And also my daughter told me not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I’m not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.”
He did make an exception to gush over Emma, who has herself been acting since she was ten years old. Saying he is “in love with my daughter’s work these days,” and that he “can’t believe how great she’s become,” he shared: “I’m so proud of her I can’t see straight. Since her performance in Maybe I Do until right now, she overwhelms me with pride and just, ‘Oh my God, here she goes again.’ And I’m just so happy to be her dad because she’s kicking a**. And I’m so proud.”
