'DWTS' Eric Roberts' Debut Was Planned 20 Years Ago?

Actor Eric Roberts will make his debut on Dancing With the Stars for its 33rd season. The actor revealed that his appearance on the show actually had a long time coming. Fans have also taken to social media to praise the actor’s performance so far.

A Scheduling Conflict Kept The Actor From Appearing Earlier

For his debut on the series, Roberts was paired with professional dancer Britt Stewart. Performing a cha-cha act, the two danced to the tune of “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

This isn’t the first time Roberts was considered for a spot on the show. In a statement, he revealed that he was previously offered a chance to appear on the show 19 years prior.

Eric Roberts & Britt Stewart - Instagram — Eric Roberts & Britt Stewart – Instagram

Saying that it was “better late than never,” he explained a scheduling conflict kept him from dancing on the show:

“One day of filming a movie overlapped, and I was devastated by that because I’m such a huge fan of the show and I’m ready to make up for lost time.”

“I’ve been waiting 19 years for this moment, and I’m not going to mess it up… hopefully.”

As noted by Entertainment Weekly, fans have taken to social media to commend Roberts. One user, identified as “Whovian4life Jo.” wrote on X: “Nice! I don’t watch the show, but I’ll tune in to see you. You’re one of the nicest people I’ve met. Good luck sir!”

Another user, identified as “Jessica Lynn,” wrote that: “ERIC & BRITT you know what I love the fact that he has been waiting 19 years and didn’t care still gave it everything he had on the live stage.”

Roberts Also Talked About The Time It Took On Social Media

Roberts also alluded to the years it took to finally appear on the show on X. As he wrote, “This morning’s announcement on Good Morning America of my participation in Season 33.”

“The crazy thing is I have been waiting to do this show all these years as I was scheduled to do Season 1 and had to pull out for a movie. My wife and I love this show so to participate is super exciting.”

The actor’s debut on the show earned him 5 points from each of the judges, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, earning him a score of 15 out of 30.

Roberts is known for his roles in the films Runaway Train, The Dark Knight, and The Expendables. On television, he has also had recurring roles in series like the dramas Heroes and Suits, as well as the soap opera The Young and the Restless. Through his long career, he’s been known to have over 700 acting credits.

Roberts is known for his talented family. His younger sister is actress Julia Roberts, who is known for films like Pretty Woman and My Best Friend’s Wedding. He is also the father of actress Emma Roberts, who famously went from a child star in the early 2000s to a prominent scream queen, notably with her work on the American Horror Story series and Scream Queens. He is also believed to be a distant cousin of Fight Club actor Edward Norton.

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