Dark Knight, Mickey Rourke & More – Eric Roberts Talks of his Career, Life & More

Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt

“To sum it up in my opinion it’s about a matter of fact, but it’s an opinion about a matter of fact – artists aren’t running the show anymore – lawyers are. Lawyers know as much about movie making as they do about kindness.”—Eric Roberts

In 1978, at the age of ten years old, I went to see a movie with my late father Alvin Berkwitt. He loved movies and acted years before. He instilled in me a love for movies and more important, acting. The movie I saw was the KING OF THE GYPSIES. It was a fantastic movie that starred a then young 22 year old actor by the name of “Eric Roberts.” He owned the character of “Dave,” which my dad stressed to me. From that performance would come the rave reviews. In 1984, Eric would star opposite another fantastic actor by the name of “Mickey Rourke.” The movie was the cult classic “THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE.”

In the “Book of Berkwitt,” the Academy should have at least nominated Rourke for Best Actor and Roberts for Best Supporting Actor. I have read reviews where film critics panned Eric’s performance as an act of overacting. Overacted? Watch him scream the words: “Charlie, they took my thumb!” When he screamed that line and passed out, I thought they cut my thumb off! It’s a film classic, that almost 30 years, still holds up.

Roberts may have not gotten nominated for THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE, but he did for his role as “Buck McGeehy,” in the 1985 hit movie, “RUNAWAY TRAIN,” losing to Don Ameche for COCOON.
I have rooted for both Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts who have had their ups and downs in Hollywood, but from my perspective, their talent never wavered. To see them both still acting and “Bringing It” to their craft is impressive after 30 plus years.

At this point of my lead-in, all I can do is steal a line that I totally concur with from Mickey Rourke’s heartfelt speech from the Spirit Awards which he was awarded for his movie THE WRESTLER, a few years back: “Eric Roberts is the Fucking Man.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, MR Eric Roberts with Special Guest MRS Eliza Roberts…

To Read this Exclusive Interview with Acting Legend Eric Roberts, click HERE!