Eric Roberts is reflecting on his 1985 Oscars loss.
“I remember losing,” Roberts, 68, told Us Weekly exclusively at the premiere of The Righteous Gemstones season 4 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5. “It’s devastating because you don’t really want to win, because you don’t think your speech will ever hold up.”
Roberts was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category following his role as Buck McGeehy in Runaway Train. Fellow nominees included Don Ameche for Cocoon, Klaus Maria Brandauer for Out of Africa, William Hickey for Prizzi’s Honor and Robert Loggia for Jagged Edge.
Before Ameche took home the win, Roberts speculated that he or Brandauer would get the award.
“Probably [Brandauer] because his movie was a bigger hit,” Roberts told Us. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’m second and maybe I’ll get lucky.’ Then, I was wrong on all accounts.”
Related: Eric Roberts Is ‘Convinced’ His Fish Can Recognize His ‘Singing Voice’
Leon Bennett/Getty Images Eric Roberts is one with animals. “I’m convinced the fish in our pond [recognize] my singing voice,” Roberts, 67, exclusively tells Us Weekly‘s 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me, noting that the aquatic animals “know to come for food when they hear me.” Fish aren’t the only creatures near Roberts’ house […]
This was Roberts’ only Oscar nomination in his 40-plus years in Hollywood. However, the actor told Us on Wednesday that he has learned some lessons along the way throughout his career.
“I’ve learned one thing,” he stated. “Work, work, work. Smile, smile, smile.”
Roberts also dished on saying goodbye to The Righteous Gemstones. The actor played Glendon “Junior” Marsh Jr. in the HBO show’s second season, which aired in 2022.
“This is my favorite job I ever had in my life,” Roberts told Us. “Because I was playing with my family, who I know very well.”
He continued, “I got the part through an audition and then had the best day with John Goodman. Had the best day every day going to work. Every day was like a vacation for me. It was so much fun.”
The Righteous Gemstones stars Danny McBride, Adam DeVine and Goodman, among others. Roberts worked closely with Goodman on set, since their characters were old friends.
Roberts was told “less than nothing” about the project before nabbing the role, he recalled in a 2022 interview with Collider.
“When I got the part, they told me nothing. They just let me go,” he added.
According to Roberts, everyone on set was “very accessible, approachable and creative,” making for a “wonderful” working environment.
“I had it made because I have a character with lots of backstory, but it’s all backstory concerning John. We have a past history,” Roberts said. “So, I just got to follow John for the pacing, and I got to play this great character.”
The Righteous Gemstones season 4 premieres on HBO Sunday, March 9, at 10 p.m. ET.
Reporting by Mariel Turner
Read the full article here
