Eric Roberts

Roberts in 2004, photo by Starfrenzy/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Eric Anthony Roberts

Place of Birth: Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 18, 1956

Ethnicity: English, German, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, remote French

Eric Roberts is an American actor. His roles include the films King of the Gypsies, Raggedy Man, Star 80, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Runaway Train, The Specialist, Cecil B. Demented, National Security, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, The Dark Knight, The Expendables, Inherent Vice, The Institute, and Head Full of Honey, and television’s Saved by the Light, Doctor Who, Less than Perfect, Heroes, The Young and the Restless, The Finder, Suits, and a portrayal on South Park.

Eric is the son of Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts, who were actors and playwrights. He is the brother of actresses Lisa Roberts Gillan and Julia Roberts (Julia Fiona Roberts). Eric is married to actress Eliza Roberts, who is the daughter of screenwriter David Rayfiel and radio host Lila Garrett. Eric is the father of actress Emma Roberts, with his former partner Kelly Cunningham.

Eric’s father’s family has lived in the Southern United States for many generations; his ancestry includes English, German, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and remote French.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2023) stated that Eric’s sister Julia’s genetic ancestry consists of:

*32% England & North Western Europe
*32% Scotland
*26% Norway
*7% Sweden & Denmark
*2% Wales
*1% Ireland

Eric’s paternal grandfather was Walter Thomas “Tom” Roberts (the son of John Pendleton Roberts and Jimmie Glen Corbitt). Walter was born in Douglas, Georgia. John was born in Douglas, the son of Henry McDonald Mitchell, Jr. and Rhoda/Rodie Suttle/Suttles. Eric’s great-grandfather John was born and raised under the name of his mother’s late husband, Willis R. Roberts, who had died over a decade before his birth. John’s biological father was married to another woman when he was born. Eric’s great-grandmother Jimmie was born in Douglas, the daughter of Thomas C. Corbitt and Josephine “Josie”/Jodie Gherkey/Garker, whose father was German.

Eric’s paternal grandmother was Beatrice M. Beal (the daughter of William Edward Beal and Pearl F. Dooley). Beatrice was born in Georgia. William was born in Alabama, the son of Marion Beale and Alice C. Roy. Eric’s great-grandmother Pearl was born in Georgia, the daughter of Washington “Lewis” Dooley and Mahalia/Mahala Ann “Haley” Hitt.

Eric’s maternal grandfather was Wendell John Bredemus (the son of John Math/Mathias/Matheus/Mathews Bredemus and Elin Maria “Eleanor” Johansdotter/Johnson). Wendell was born in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Eric’s great-grandfather John was born in Minneapolis, the son of Mathias/Matthias/Mathew Bredemus, who was German, with roots in Rhineland, Prussia; and of Elizabeth Steffens/Stevens, whose parents were also German. Eric’s great-grandmother Elin was Swedish, born in Sundstorp, By, Värmland, Sweden, the daughter of Johan/John Jansson/Johnson and Emma Kristina/Christina Carlsdotter/Karlsdotter/Carlson.

Eric’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Ellen Billingsley (the daughter of James Henry Billingsley and Nellie Hutchings). Elizabeth was born in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. James was born in Putnam, Indiana, the son of John James Warren Billingsley and Elizabeth P./A./E. Hymer/Hyner/Pickelhymer. Eric’s great-grandmother Nellie was born in Greencastle, Putnam, the daughter of Dolphin/Dalphin/Dalphon Hutchings and Ellen Greenlee/Matkin/Matkins.

Sources: Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak’s article about Eric and Julia’s ancestry, at The Huffington Post – http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Genealogies of Eric Roberts – http://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Eric Roberts (through Eric’s sister, Julia Roberts) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogies of Eric’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogy of Eric’s paternal great-grandfather, John Pendleton Roberts – http://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of Eric’s maternal great-grandparents, James Henry Billingsley and Nellie Hutchings – https://familysearch.org