Julia Roberts' brother Eric FINALLY apologizes to movie icon for claiming he 'made' her - as he reveals the 'great undoing' of their relationship

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Eric Roberts has made a public apology to his superstar sister Julia Roberts after he previously took credit for her success in Hollywood.

The actor, 68, chose to speak up in his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far, in which he also recalled how his decision to falsely claim their mother had died was the 'great undoing' of their relationship.

It comes years after Eric took credit for the successful career of his sister, 56, and also his daughter, Scream Queens star Emma Roberts, 33.

'If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that,' he told Vanity Fair in 2018.

'When Julia first came to New York, I went into William Morris and I said, "Which one of you is going to sign my sister Julia?"'

Eric Roberts has made a public apology to his superstar sister Julia Roberts after he previously claimed that her success in Hollywood was because of him

Eric, 68, told Vanity Fair in 2018: 'If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that'

He added: 'And I am so proud that everybody knows I was first, because I was first by a long shot. I was first to get Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, so I'm proud of that.'

Admitting his error in the memoir, The Dark Knight star wrote: 'One of the things I'd like to apologize for in this book is for publicly saying on more than one occasion, "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts."

'That's not only unfortunate, but it's also untrue. And I hope Julie will accept this more public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said...' 

Eric's candid memoir covers his arrival in Tinseltown at the age of 17, his extensive career and his struggle with substance abuse disorder.

The Dancing With the Stars contestant also discusses his complicated relationship with Julia, explaining how some of his public actions pushed them apart.

One instance the star owned up to was the fact he would claim that their mother, Betty Lou Bredemus, was dead during the early years of his career.

The Star 80 actor explained that he made the claim as a way to get back at his mother, due to the fact he was 'still angry' at her after their parent's split.

Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts were one-time actors and playwrights who got married in 1955. 

In his memoir, Eric lamented: 'That's not only unfortunate, but it's also untrue. And I hope Julie will accept this more public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said...' (pictured in 1986)

It comes years after Eric - who is father to Scream Queens star Emma Roberts - took credit for the successful careers of his sister, 56, and daughter, 33, (pictured together in 2012)

However, Eric's mother filed for divorce in 1971 and it was finalized in early 1972.

Reflecting on the impact of his words in the memoir, Eric wrote: 'I'm only now beginning to realize the impact it must have had to Julie and Lisa, who were 11 and 13 years old, who were living with our mom but hearing their big brother... saying in public that their mom is dead.

'It was the great undoing of my relationship with my sisters. That I was unconcerned about them and focused only on my mom reading that I'd killed her off was such a selfish thing to have done.'

Indeed, the King of the Gypsies actor touched on his complex relationship with his mother who he claimed physically punished him during her mood swings when he was a child.

He wrote: 'Beatings had become a constant in my life. I never remember not being aware of Mom's moods, and whenever she and Daddy had an argument, I knew she'd be coming for me. 

'The pecking order when: Mom and Daddy fought, then I got my a** kicked. IN fact, my earliest memories are of Mom pulling my hair.'

Julia pictured with their mother Betty Motes in 1989, who Eric claims was abusive during his childhood

Eric and Julia's mother died in February 2015, while their father had died decades earlier in December 1977. 

The actor and his sister had always been close until he made a sarcastic comment in the early 1990s while discussing the success of her classic film, Pretty Woman.

Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far will be released on September 17

The Runaway Train star has always insisted that it was taken out of context, a sentiment that he reiterated in 2022 on the Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast.

'Julia and I have always been fine,' he said. 'I think years and years ago, I was doing a press tour for some movie… It was just when Pretty Woman just got released and so they're asking a bunch of questions about Julia. And I said, "Hey, excuse me. Can we talk about me?"'

The Suits alum explained that his comment was misinterpreted as he added: 'Of course, then it's like, "Oh, they have a problem."' 

While the siblings 'don't agree about a lot of things,' the actor insisted that they still have a close bond. 

'I love knowing my sister,' he said. 'She's a cool chick, my sister. I just stay out of her hair with the press. That's all. Simple. And she stays out of mine.' 

Eric claims the only thing that ever caused a rift with his sisters Julia and Lisa was his past drug addiction.

He told Vanity Fair previously: 'I wouldn't characterize it as a falling-out. I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness.

'We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.'

The actor continued: 'I was exhausting to be around: complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment. Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia.'

However, he explained that after years of estrangement, the siblings reunited in 2004 when Julia welcomed Hazel and Phinnaeus.

Eric said that he visited the hospital after his younger sister gave birth 'to drop off gifts.'

He added: 'Instead I was ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love.'

The performer went on to say that after that visit, they spent several Thanksgivings together and became 'email buddies.'

Back in May 2020, he spoke fondly about how much he loved to see the bond between Julia and his daughter Emma.

He told Us Weekly: 'It’s really cool to look at them. I love seeing them together.'

Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far is set for release on September 17.