Walter Grady Roberts was an American one-time actor and playwright. With a handful of movies under his bag, the name Walter is still popular in Hollywood why? Well, he is the father of Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts as well as actor Eric Roberts.
Who Is Walter Grady Roberts? Bio, Age, & Career
Georgia native Walter Grady Roberts was born on 25th December 1933 to Thomas Walter Roberts (1905-1986) and Beatrice Beal (1911-1983). He followed Christianity and was Baptist.
There is not much information about Roberts’s academic background or early life, but he was in acting and playwrights from the very beginning. Also, he did some movies but ended up founding an Atlanta Actors as well as Writers Workshop with his then-wife, Betty Lou Bredemus, in Midtown, Atlanta.
While Bety was pregnant with Julia, the couple operated a children’s acting school successfully. Under his coaching, an African-American actress, Yolanda King, a daughter of Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. attended the school.
As gratitude for Walter’s first-class service running the only racially integrated theater group in the region as well as Roberts’ unstable financial condition, Mrs. King paid their hospital bill when Julia was born on October 28, 1967.
Walter Grady Roberts’s Married Life With Betty Lou Bredemus
Walter Grady Robert was married to Betty Lou Bredemus. They exchanged vows in 1955. Both aspiring actors met during the production of George Washington Slept Here for the armed forces.
On 18th April 1956, Walter and Betty had their first child, Eric Anthony Roberts, in Biloxi, Mississippi. On 1st January 1965, their second child, a daughter, Lisa Roberts, was born, followed by their third child, Julia Roberts, on 28th October 1967.
As aforementioned, together, Walter and Betty founded the Atlanta Actors as well as Writers Workshop in Atlanta and ran a children’s acting school. Also, Walter worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman while Betty, a real estate agent. However, the earning was not enough for a family of five.
In 1971, Betty filed for divorce against Walter, which was finalized the following year. The reason for the divorce is unknown to date. Walter had custody of Eric Roberts while the two daughters moved in with their mother.
After the divorce, Walter reportedly stayed single, while Betty soon remarried Michael Motes. Her second husband, Motes, was abusive as well as often unemployed. They had a daughter, Nancy.
In 1983, Betty divorced Motes. She later admitted that marrying Motes brought a huge disaster in her life.
Walter Grady Roberts: Great Source Of Inspiration To His Children
All of Walter Grady Robert’s children followed his footsteps and pursued a Hollywood career.
The big boy, Eric Roberts, is a successful actor. He entered Hollywood with a movie, King of the Gypsies in 1978. where he was a lead character. For his character in the movie, he earned Golden Globe Award nominations.
Further, he was also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for Star 80 (1983) and Runaway Train (1985). Currently sixty-five, Eric is still active in the film industry with over 700 credits.
Similarly, Lisa Roberts had a short-lived acting career.
The third one, Julia Roberts, is an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and 3X Golden Globe Award-winning actress. Also, she is considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
Julia debuted on the big screen in 1988, appearing in the comedy-drama, Satisfaction. She got her initial breakthrough from Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989) and ultimately landed a leading role in Pretty Woman in 1990. The movie was a super hit with a box office collection of $464 million worldwide.
Throughout the 90s, 00s, and 10s, she gave numerous hits in movies: Hook, Sleeping with the Enemy, The Pelican Brief, Runaway Bride, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Erin Brockovich, Notting Hill, Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Eat Pray Love, Charlie Wilson’s War, Valentine’s, Mirror Mirror, Money Monster, and Wonder.
Julia’s upcoming project: Leave the World behind, is an adaption of the novel of a similar name.
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Walter Grady Roberts Cause Of Death:
In 1977, Walter Grady Roberts died at 44 due to throat cancer. Though he never witnessed his children’s successful acting careers, he must be proud and seeing somewhere from above the clouds.
