Eric Roberts
| Eric Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eric Anthony Roberts April 18, 1956 Biloxi, Mississippi, United States |
| 💼 Occupation | Actor |
| 📆 Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Runaway Train Star 80 The Pope of Greenwich Village The Dark Knight The Expendables |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Eliza Roberts |
| 👶 Children | Emma Roberts |
| 👪 Relatives | Julia Roberts (sister) |
Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor whose career has included film, television and stage work. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Buck McGeehy in Runaway Train (1985). He has also received three Golden Globe nominations, for King of the Gypsies, Star 80 and Runaway Train.[1][2]
Roberts has appeared in a large number of feature films, television series and independent productions. His notable film credits include The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), The Specialist (1994), The Dark Knight (2008), The Expendables (2010) and Inherent Vice (2014).[3]
Early life
Roberts was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on April 18, 1956.[4]
He grew up primarily in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and later pursued acting professionally.
Roberts is the older brother of actress Julia Roberts and the father of actress Emma Roberts.[5]
Career
1970s and early film career
Roberts gained widespread attention with his feature-film role in King of the Gypsies (1978), directed by Frank Pierson.
His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year – Actor.[6]
The film also featured Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Judd Hirsch, Brooke Shields and Annette O'Toole.
1980s
During the 1980s, Roberts became known for a series of dramatic performances.
He appeared opposite Sissy Spacek in Raggedy Man (1981) and later portrayed Paul Snider in Bob Fosse's Star 80 (1983).
His performance in Star 80 earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.[7]
Roberts subsequently appeared in The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), alongside Mickey Rourke.
In 1985, he played Buck McGeehy in Runaway Train, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and co-starring Jon Voight.
The performance earned Roberts a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.[8][9]
1990s
During the 1990s, Roberts continued appearing in both studio films and independent productions.
His credits included Final Analysis (1992), Best of the Best II (1993), The Specialist (1994) and the television miniseries In Cold Blood.
He also appeared in La Cucaracha (1998).
2000s
Roberts continued working extensively in film and television during the 2000s.
He appeared in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) and played crime boss Sal Maroni in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008).
He also had recurring and guest roles in a number of American television series.
2010s
In 2010, Roberts played James Munroe in the action film The Expendables, alongside Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and Mickey Rourke.
His later film credits included Lovelace (2013) and Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice (2014).[10]
Roberts also continued to appear in television productions including Heroes, CSI, Crash, Suits, Code Black, Grey's Anatomy, Will & Grace, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hawaii Five-0 and Entourage.[11]
Independent film work
Alongside major studio productions, Roberts has appeared extensively in independent films.
His large body of independent work has included thrillers, dramas, science-fiction productions, horror films and low-budget feature films.
This has resulted in one of the most extensive screen filmographies among contemporary American actors.
G.O.D.TECH
Roberts appears in the British dystopian science-fiction feature film G.O.D.TECH as the Angel of the Messiah.
The film was written, directed and produced by British filmmaker David John Jeffery through Invisible Sword Productions Ltd.
G.O.D.TECH is set in a dystopian future in which a global authority known as the World Parliament promotes a technological system combining artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.
Roberts' character, the Angel of the Messiah, serves as a public religious figure aligned with the regime's leader, Piotr Jan. Through televised sermons and political broadcasts, he promotes the G.O.D.TECH system as a form of technological and spiritual salvation.
The character uses religious language and imagery to encourage obedience to the new political order and plays an important role in the film's exploration of false messianic authority, faith and technological control.
The film also stars Jama Dandy, Jessica Shuey, Kent Goldfinch, Bella Cai, Nicole McClean, Abid Shamim PM, Dani Raza, Gabriela Dubiago and Lamin Tamba.
Principal photography took place in 2025 and the film subsequently entered an international screening and festival campaign.
Television
Roberts has appeared in numerous television programmes throughout his career.
His recurring and guest appearances have included:
- Heroes
- Less Than Perfect
- Crash
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- Suits
- Code Black
- Grey's Anatomy
- Will & Grace
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Hawaii Five-0
- Entourage
Roberts has also appeared in television films and miniseries.
Stage career
Roberts began part of his professional acting career in theatre and has performed on stage in New York.
His stage work has included Broadway productions.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Golden Globe Awards | New Star of the Year – Actor | King of the Gypsies | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Star 80 | Nominated |
| 1986 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Runaway Train | Nominated |
| 1986 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Runaway Train | Nominated |
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | King of the Gypsies | Dave |
| 1981 | Raggedy Man | Teddy |
| 1983 | Star 80 | Paul Snider |
| 1984 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Paulie |
| 1985 | Runaway Train | Buck McGeehy |
| 1994 | The Specialist | Tomas Leon |
| 2006 | A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints | Antonio |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Sal Maroni |
| 2010 | The Expendables | James Munroe |
| 2014 | Inherent Vice | Michael Z. Wolfmann |
| 2025–2026 | G.O.D.TECH | Angel of the Messiah |
Personal life
Roberts is the brother of actress Julia Roberts and the father of actress Emma Roberts.
He is married to actress and casting director Eliza Roberts.
See also
- Julia Roberts
- Emma Roberts
- Runaway Train (film)
- The Dark Knight (film)
- The Expendables (2010 film)
- G.O.D.TECH
References
- ↑ "Eric Roberts". Golden Globes.
- ↑ "The 58th Academy Awards – 1986". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- ↑ "Eric Roberts". IMDb.
- ↑ "Eric Roberts Biography". IMDb.
- ↑ "Eric Roberts". Golden Globes.
- ↑ "King of the Gypsies". Golden Globes.
- ↑ "Star 80". Golden Globes.
- ↑ "Runaway Train". Golden Globes.
- ↑ "The 58th Academy Awards – 1986". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- ↑ "Eric Roberts". IMDb.
- ↑ "Eric Roberts". IMDb.
External links
- Eric Roberts on IMDb
- Eric Roberts at the Golden Globes
- Eric Roberts' Academy Award nomination at Oscars.org
