This Little Girl Was Left Behind by Her Hollywood Dad at 7 Months Old — Now She’s More Famous Than He Ever Was
He was the brooding heartthrob of the 1980s — sharp jawline, intense eyes, and a talent that lit up every screen he touched. Hollywood adored him. But while his career soared, a painful decision made behind the scenes followed him like a shadow for decades.
Because long before he became an Oscar-nominated actor, Eric Roberts was a young father… who walked away from his baby daughter when she was just seven months old.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1956, Roberts built a name for himself early. After theatre success in Burn This, he exploded onto the film scene, earning Golden Globe nominations for King of the Gypsies, Star 80, and Runaway Train.
But while his star rose, his personal life was crumbling.
Walking Away From His Own Daughter
When his daughter, Emma, was born on February 10, 1991, Roberts was already struggling with serious substance abuse issues. The relationship with Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, fell apart quickly — leaving Kelly with full custody.
“I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old,” Roberts later admitted in his 2024 memoir Runaway Train. “I couldn’t handle the realities of an infant… I wasn’t capable of being a parent.”
The situation got even more complicated when Eric’s superstar sister, Julia Roberts, stepped in during the split. Many assumed she turned against him. Eric insists that wasn’t the case.
“There was never a custody battle,” he clarified. “I never believed I deserved custody of Emma. Julia simply helped Kelly financially because she could — and she did it for Emma.”
The Little Girl Who Grew Up Without Him
While Eric wrestled with addiction, Emma Roberts grew up with her mother — and in the glow of her famous aunt.
As a child, she followed Julia around on film sets, falling in love with the art of storytelling. She remembers wandering onto the Erin Brockovich set, hiding in her aunt’s makeup trailer, and soaking in the magic of movie-making.
“It felt like summer camp,” Emma once said. “Just pure creativity.”
That spark never faded.
Years later, Emma became a major star — leading American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and hit films like We’re the Millers. She carved out her own legacy, one completely separate from the father who wasn’t there to watch her grow.
And the wound of his absence remained.
Asked once if she was close with him, Emma answered carefully:
“Um… how do I say this? No. We’re not.”
Eric Roberts Today: Sober, Regretful, and Hopeful
Now 69, Eric Roberts is sober and reflective. His career continues, but he speaks more openly than ever about the years addiction stole from him — and the damage done in its wake.
“For many years, I was a practicing drug addict,” he told Today. “And I alienated a lot of people… especially my family.”
Yet he has made peace with his past.
He often shares photos and memories of Emma, always full of pride.
“As clueless as I was, the love I had for her was real,” he wrote beneath a childhood picture. “I knew she would grow up to be more than I ever imagined. I love you, Emma.”
He’s rebuilt his marriage with his wife, Eliza. He continues to work steadily in both indie films and Hollywood productions. And he now speaks compassionately about addiction:
“Addicts aren’t bad guys. They’re just people making a mistake.”
Watching His Daughter Shine — From a Distance
Eric knows his daughter doesn’t need him anymore.
And in a way, that’s what makes him proud.
“I’m often asked if I worry about her being in this business,” he said. “But Emma’s so much stronger than I was at her age. She has tools I never had.”
His little girl — the one he left behind — is now the more famous Roberts. She has stepped out of his shadow, her aunt’s shadow, and built a career entirely her own.
And though she didn’t grow up with her father by her side, one thing is certain:
He’s watching her now.
Not from the limelight he once chased…
But with the quiet pride of a man who finally understands what truly matters — and who never stopped loving the daughter he lost too soon to addiction, but never forgot.