Eric and Julia Roberts are a unique brother-and-sister duo in the world of acting. They are only the third pair of siblings to be nominated for Oscars for acting. Eric received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Runaway Train in 1985. His sister Julia won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich in 2001, following previous nominations in 1989 and 1990 for Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman, respectively. Only two other sibling pairs have achieved this feat: Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, and Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine.
While Eric and Julia Roberts are well-known for their acting careers and their publicized family issues, few are aware that both are listed among the Famous People Who Stutter by the Stuttering Foundation of America. Both siblings stuttered as children, highlighting the hereditary aspect of stuttering.
Julia has mentioned her childhood stuttering in public, though she has not elaborated much. In contrast, Eric has been more open about his stuttering, indicating that his stuttering persisted longer into childhood than his sister’s and was more severe.
Eric has shared in interviews that he read extensively as a child to avoid speaking due to his severe stutter. Julia: Her Life, a biography by James Spada, details Eric’s childhood stuttering, noting that he did not speak until he was five and struggled with a nearly crippling stutter. Eric’s father, an acting teacher, recognized his son’s talent for memorization and encouraged him to pursue acting, which he excelled at without stuttering.
Both Eric and Julia’s inclusion on the SFA’s list of Famous People Who Stutter serves as inspiration for those struggling with stuttering. Their story showcases the possibility of overcoming speech challenges and achieving success.
Eric and Julia Roberts form a unique brother-and-sister duo in the acting world, being only the third pair of siblings to both receive Oscar nominations for acting. Eric was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Runaway Train” in 1985, while Julia won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Erin Brockovich” in 2001, following nominations in 1989 and 1990 for “Steel Magnolias” and “Pretty Woman,” respectively. Other sibling pairs achieving this include Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, and Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine.
Although known for their acting and publicized family matters, many are unaware that both are listed among the Famous People Who Stutter by the Stuttering Foundation of America. They both stuttered as children, highlighting the hereditary aspect of stuttering.
While Julia has briefly mentioned her childhood stuttering in public, Eric has been more open, revealing that his stuttering was more severe and persisted longer into childhood than his sister’s.
Eric has shared in interviews that he extensively read as a child to avoid speaking due to his severe stutter. Julia: Her Life, a biography by James Spada, details Eric’s childhood stuttering, noting that he did not speak until he was five and struggled with a nearly crippling stutter. His father, an acting teacher, recognized his son’s talent for memorization and encouraged him to pursue acting, where he excelled without stuttering.
Both Eric and Julia’s inclusion on the SFA’s list of Famous People Who Stutter serves as inspiration for those struggling with stuttering, showcasing the possibility of overcoming speech challenges and achieving success.
