As a cinema devotee with a deep appreciation for Hollywood history, I must say that Eric Roberts is nothing short of extraordinary. His life story is as captivating as any script I’ve ever read, with a unique blend of stardom and personal connections to some of the most influential figures of our time.
Known for amassing over 700 acting credits, Eric Roberts has solidified himself as one of the most productive actors in film history. His debut role in a feature film in 1978 even garnered him a Golden Globe nomination, and just short of ten years later, he was up for an Oscar due to his performance in “Runaway Train.” Prior to his rise to Hollywood stardom, Roberts had already rubbed shoulders with notable figures from a different sphere – none other than civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
On the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast, Roberts discussed his new memoir titled “Runaway Train: Or, The Story of My Life So Far.” During the conversation, he disclosed an interesting detail about his 10th birthday party in 1966 – it was none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who had the honor of cutting the cake. This connection came about due to the friendship between Roberts’ parents, who ran an acting school in Atlanta at that time, and Dr. King. They welcomed the King children into their school when no one else would, as racial tensions were high due to the unfortunate reality that they still are today.
In Stone Mountain Park during 1966, on my tenth birthday, he sliced my birthday cake. His children were performing in a play alongside me, and it was a special occasion for everyone involved. The parents of all the kids came to celebrate, and he was there supporting his own kids. He warmly congratulated me on turning ten, so I handed him the knife to cut my cake as he was our honored guest.
The bond between the King and Roberts families runs deeper than a simple birthday party celebration, as it transpired that Julia Roberts (Eric’s younger sister) disclosed that the King family had covered the expenses for her birth in 1967. This revelation was made just a year before the Baptist minister was fatally shot in Memphis, Tennessee. In her captivating narrative, Roberts described their assistance as helping them “get out of a difficult situation.” Listen to her account below.
Eric Roberts Is Tearing It Up on Dancing With the Stars
Always keeping busy, the veteran Roberts graced an incredible 43 films in 2024 and is currently starring on the latest season of “Dancing with the Stars,” dancing alongside professional partner Britt Stewart. This show has been a long-cherished dream for him, as he was first invited to participate 19 years ago but had to decline due to scheduling issues. “I was heartbroken back then because I’m such an ardent admirer of the show and I’m eager to make up for the time lost,” he shared during the Season 33 premiere of “DWTS.
Concerning how Roberts described his experience? Earlier this morning, he was on the Today show, stating, “I possess a great deal of courage, but I’ve never been more terrified in my life. It was incredibly eerie.” Roberts and Stewart’s initial performance didn’t sit well with the judges, resulting in a score of 15 out of 30, the lowest among all competitors. Will this result in their elimination during the Oscars on September 24? To find out, we’ll have to watch ABC next week.
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2024-09-18 21:01