Julia Roberts and Husband Danny Moder Leading Separate Lives

By Stuart Wolf - May 20, 2025

This article appeared in girlpaths.com and has been published here with permission.

America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts rocketed to fame in the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman. But behind the scenes, Julia’s love life played out like a rom-com. The runaway bride left Kiefer Sutherland at the altar, and married musician Lyle Lovett before finally finding the love of her life, marrying Danny Moder and having three children. However, in recent years, their relationship has hit the rocks, and they now live separately.

Pretty Girl

Julia Fiona Roberts was born in Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, on October 28th, 1967. Her parents are Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts. Her elder brother, Eric Roberts, starred in films like Best of the Best, The Dark Knight, and The Expendables.

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Her elder sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, also became an actress and producer, appearing or exec producing several of her sister’s movies from 1999’s Runaway Bride to 2023’s Leave the World Behind. Eric’s daughter Emma is also an actor.

Acting Runs in the Family

So, where did the siblings inherit their acting abilities? Well, parents Betty Lou and Walter were once actors and playwrights who met while performing in US Armed Forces theatrical productions. They co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop and ran a children's acting school in Decatur when Betty Lou was expecting Julia.

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Walter was acting coach to Yolanda King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta. With the Roberts family experiencing financial difficulties, Coretta King paid their hospital bill when Julia was born.

Family Strife

Julia’s parents divorced in 1972, and Eric lived with his father, meaning Julia and Eric were estranged until 2004. Betty Lou quickly married unemployed Michael Motes, who put Betty and Julia through hell. Walter passed away from cancer when Julia was 10, and she always hated her stepfather.

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Betty Lou and Michael had a daughter, Nancy, but she sadly passed away from illicit substances in 2014, aged 37. Betty Lou divorced Michael Motes on cruelty grounds in 1983. She said marrying him was the biggest mistake of her life.

Bright Lights, Big City

Despite the family drama, Julia did well at Smyrna's Campbell High School, playing the clarinet in the school band. Julia grew up wanting to become a veterinarian, but abandoned this idea when she realized she possessed "an inability to deal with science on a brainiac kind of level."

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After graduating high school, she moved to New York City to live with her sister, Lisa, and pursue acting alongside her siblings. In the Big Apple, she signed with Click Modeling Agency and enrolled in acting classes.