The actor Eric Roberts celebrates 69 today
Roberts made his feature‑film debut in 1977’s “King of the Gypsies,” earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and in the 1990s and 2000s Roberts became known both for leading roles in indie and genre films and for his steady work on television
The actor Eric Roberts celebrates 69 today
Eric Roberts was born on April 18, 1956, in Biloxi, Mississippi, to parents Betty Lou Bredemus, a teacher, and Walter Grady Roberts, an actor and playwright. Raised in a creative household in Atlanta, Georgia, he discovered his passion for performance early on, studying drama in high school before moving to New York to pursue acting professionally.
Roberts made his feature‑film debut in 1977’s “King of the Gypsies,” earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his raw, magnetic portrayal of a rebellious gypsy youth. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s he delivered memorable turns in “Star 80,” “Runaway Train” and “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” showcasing an intense screen presence that critics praised for its emotional depth and edgy charisma.
In the 1990s and 2000s Roberts became known both for leading roles in indie and genre films and for his steady work on television. He appeared in series such as “Less than Perfect,” “Heroes,” and “Suits,” and took on larger‑than‑life characters in blockbusters like “The Dark Knight,” where his brief but powerful cameo added gravitas to Gotham’s underworld. A prolific performer, he’s also lent his voice to animated projects and video games, demonstrating remarkable versatility across media.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Eric Roberts has amassed hundreds of credits, earning a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors—equally at home in gritty dramas, off‑beat comedies and action thrillers.
Watch an interview with Eric Roberts on the Today show
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