Eric Roberts is opening up about his regrets as a father, particularly in his relationship with his daughter, actress Emma Roberts. In his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, the 68-year-old actor reflects on the difficulties he faced as a parent, revealing that he knew early on he couldn’t be the father Emma deserved.
Eric candidly discusses the challenges that arose after separating from Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, when their daughter was just seven months old. “I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just seven months old,” he writes, acknowledging the impact of his absence during Emma’s early life.
Eric wrote, via EW, that Despite the hardships, Eric describes the overwhelming joy he felt when he became a father. “The pregnancy was very exciting. I fell madly in love with Emma the first minute I saw her,” he shares. One tender memory stands out for him—calming baby Emma by singing Happy Birthday. “When I started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, she must have recognized my voice because she calmed right down,” Eric recalls.
However, he admits that while he loved Emma deeply, he struggled to be the parent she needed. “I loved my little daughter with the strength of Hercules, despite my own weaknesses… I couldn’t handle being a parent,” he confesses in the memoir.
Eric attributes much of his struggle to his battle with drug addiction, writing, “The biggest consequence of my drug use was losing Emma. I was still impossibly coked up when she was born, which explains everything.” His addiction ultimately led to him losing custody of Emma, and the two have remained estranged for many years.
Now, as Emma has become a mother herself, Eric reflects on the nurturing figure she has grown into—the kind of parent he wasn’t able to be. His memoir serves as both an apology and a reflection on the consequences of his past, particularly how his addiction impacted his relationship with his daughter.
Eric Roberts’ candid reflections highlight the challenges of addiction and parenting, offering readers a raw glimpse into his personal struggles and the deep love he still carries for Emma.