Actor Eric Roberts was notably absent from his daughter Emma Roberts' recent wedding to Cody John, an event attended by Emma's aunt Julia Roberts and other Hollywood stars. The absence has drawn attention to the long-standing complexities in Eric Roberts' personal life, including his strained relationship with his daughter and his estranged bond with his sister.
Emma Roberts, 35, and Cody John, 36, exchanged vows in Idaho. The guest list included Julia Roberts, her husband Danny Moder, and actresses Demi Moore, Kristen Stewart, and Sarah Paulson. Emma was walked down the aisle by her five-year-old son, Rhodes, whom she shares with ex Garrett Hedlund.
In a statement provided to the Daily Mail, Eric Roberts said, "I love my daughter, always have, always will. It is perfectly wonderful for her to celebrate however she wants, with whomever she wants." The exact reasons for his absence remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether he was invited.
Sources told the Daily Mail that friction between father and daughter was the cause, with one stating, "Emma did not invite her father to her wedding because she doesn't want to be around him." The source added that Emma has been upset with her father for many years, feeling he was not a supportive parent and was largely absent during her childhood.
Earlier this year, Eric Roberts described his relationship with Emma as "complicated" only to outsiders, while gushing about his pride in his actress daughter. In an interview with Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson in April, he stated that their relationship was not complex, but rather that outsiders misinterpreted it due to their lack of direct involvement.
Roberts has been candid about his past struggles with substance addiction, acknowledging he was not an emotionally dependable father to Emma during her youth. He previously described himself as a "car wreck" during Emma's early years, taking full responsibility for his behavior.
He lost custody of Emma, his only child, to ex Kelly Cunningham due to his admitted drug use. In a 2024 appearance on the Inside You podcast, Roberts identified the "loss of relationship with my daughter" as the toughest time of his life. He reflected on their complex dynamic in his memoir, "Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far," calling their relationship "indefinable" and noting a "sadness for the most likely, misunderstandings we'll all have forever."
Becoming a grandfather, Roberts said, particularly to his granddaughter who resembles Emma, has made him realize the extent of what he lost in their relationship. He has two step-grandchildren and a grandson from Emma's past relationship with Garrett Hedlund.
Eric Roberts' relationship with his sister Julia has also been marked by years of strain. A feud reportedly erupted when Julia sided with Kelly Cunningham in the custody battle for Emma. Eric Roberts has since expressed agreement with his sister's stance.
In his memoir, Roberts issued a public apology to Julia for a past comment: "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts." He called the remark "asinine" and expressed hope for her acceptance.
The siblings' close bond reportedly fractured in the early 1990s after Eric made a comment during a press tour for "Pretty Woman," which he stated was taken out of context. He explained that he had asked reporters, "Can we talk about me?" after being questioned extensively about Julia's success, leading to misinterpretations of a problem between them.
Roberts has maintained that he and Julia are currently on good terms, stating in 2022, "Julia and I have always been fine." He emphasized that they maintain a close bond and avoid discussing each other in the press. He has also stated that his past drug addiction was the primary cause of rifts with both Julia and their sister Lisa.
Despite the difficulties, the siblings reunited in 2004 when Julia gave birth to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus. Roberts visited the hospital and described an outpouring of "brotherly and uncle-ly love." Following this reunion, they reportedly spent Thanksgivings together and communicated via email.
In May 2020, Roberts spoke fondly of the bond between Emma and Julia, saying, "It's really cool to look at them. I love seeing them together." He has previously mentioned that both Emma and Julia have asked him not to discuss them in interviews, though he admits to occasionally doing so.
Eric Roberts and Julia Roberts have appeared in only one film together, the 1989 Western "Blood Red," where they played on-screen siblings. Eric Roberts' career, while extensive with over 800 acting credits, has been impacted by his past substance abuse issues, which he has stated stalled important career opportunities.