 |
| Award-Winning Actor Eric Roberts |
|
Award-Winning Actor Eric Roberts
by Jamie O'Quinn
His interests are as multi-faceted as his talents. From major motion pictures to Hollywood Squares to cameos in music videos, award-winning actor Eric Roberts’ high energy and adventurous spirit seems to spur his diverse career.
Born at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, Roberts and his family moved to New Orleans when he was just three days old. After spending his early years in the Crescent City, his family eventually moved to Georgia where his dad founded a local theatre company thus beginning young Roberts acting career.
Today with more than 170 television and movie parts under his belt, printing out Roberts’ resume might run your ink cartridge dry. From television shows such as "Heroes", "Less Than Perfect", and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to motion pictures including "The Dark Knight", "National Security", and "King of the Gypsies", Roberts characters range from sinister to comical. In fact, he has received recognition for several of his roles including a 1986 Academy Awards nomination for "Runaway Train", winner of the 1984 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards for "Star 80", three Golden Globe nominations including "Runaway Train" in 1986, "Star 80" in 1984 and "King of the Gypsies" in 1979, a 2003 Golden Satellite Award win for "Less Than Perfect" and a 1997 Golden Satellite nomination for "In Cold Blood".
Not one to shy away from work, Roberts recently completed several movies. I spoke with Roberts at his California home as he and his wife/manager/actress Eliza Roberts were about to scrape their house in preparation for painting.
Q: You’ve recently completed a long list of movies including "4-Bidden: Part 1", "Project Solitude", "Shannon’s Rainbow", "Rock Slyde", "The Spy and the Sparrow", "The Whole Truth", "The Steam Experiment", "Kingshighway", and "Westbrick Murders". Tell me about a few of them.
A: "Project Solitude" is a really good movie where I play a psychology professor. I conduct an experiment by dropping half my students off in the woods and putting them under stress to see how they will react."Rock Slyde" is a very funny film that I did with my friend Patrick Warburton. "The Steam Experiment" is also a really good movie about a cleaning service. We all meet in the steam room and then things go bad for the characters from there.
Q: You’ve performed an interesting array of work from movies, Hollywood Squares, talk shows, commercials, voices for animation and music videos. Why?
A: I love the diversity and I would rather be working than not. I don’t regret a single job I’ve ever taken and I treasure the experiences I’ve had. It’s been so much fun.
As an actor, I have a job everyone else in the world wants and I treasure it. I would love to work every single day of my life up until I stop breathing.
Q: I notice you’ve been in several music videos including two of Mariah Carey’s, Maroon 5, Akon, etc. You were also a presenter for the MTV awards. Do you have a special interest in music?
A: My step-son, Keaton Simons is a recording artist on CBS records. The music industry is kind of my new business, that and catering. My step-daughter, Morgan Simons, is a chef, caterer, and owner of A Catering Company. She prepares gourmet meals and can ship them anywhere.
My daughter Emma Roberts, is a television and movie actress. Her new movie, "Hotel for Dogs" is currently out. We have a ton of talent in this family…and a lot of .coms
For additional contact information on Roberts and family, go to www.ericrobertsactor.com
|