Fans were shocked when they learned about Julia Roberts’s unique connection to the late Martin Luther King Jr.

HIGHLIGHTS

 Roberts’ parents had a unique friendship with Martin Luther King Jr., who generously paid Roberts’ hospital bills after her birth.
 King’s support allowed Roberts’ family to keep their acting school, leading to Julia’s successful acting career influencing her relatives as well.
 Roberts’ work, spanning more than three decades, has garnered over $3.9 billion, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing stars.

Ever since she starred in her first film, Satisfaction alongside Liam Neeson and Justine Bateman, Julia Roberts has gone on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It’s no wonder why, after all, Roberts gained the title of the rom-com queen after starring in popular movies such as Mystic Pizza, Pretty Woman, and My Best Friend’s Wedding.

She’s also showcased her acting abilities in dramatic movies such as Erin Brockovich and Sleeping with the Enemy.

With a career spanning more than three decades, there’s still so much fans don’t know about Julia Robert’s life. After all, the actress prefers to keep most aspects of her personal life private. That’s why fans were incredibly shocked to learn that the Pretty Woman actress shares a unique connection to Martin Luther King Jr. and his family.

Julia Roberts’s Parents Were Friends With Martin Luther King Jr. And His Family

Julia Robert’s parents, Betty Lou Bredemos and Walter Grady Roberts, were actors too. They first met while performing in theatrical productions for the armed forces. Shortly after getting married, they co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop and, later on, a children’s acting school in Decatur, Georgia. Of course, this helped Julia discover her love for acting early on in her life.

Moreover, it helped the Roberts family make some rather interesting friendships, including with the King family!

During the 1960s, the King family resided in Atlanta. Their relationship with the Roberts family began when Coretta Scott King was having a rough time finding a local acting school for her children.

“My parents had a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop, and one day, Coretta Scott King called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids,” Julia shared during a HISTORYTalks interview (via Buzzfeed).

Roberts’ mother took her call and simply said, “Sure, come on over.” Given that segregation was still a big problem at the time, the Roberts family’s acceptance of the Kings led to a strong friendship between the two families.

Martin Luther King Jr. Paid For The Hospital Bill Of Julia Roberts’ Birth

Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts were expecting their third child in 1967. Unfortunately, at the time, the family was struggling to make ends meet. So, when Julia was born, they didn’t know how they were going to cover the hospital bills. Luckily, the Kings offered a helping hand!

Ultimately, Correct and Martin Luther King Jr. ended up paying for all the hospital bills associated with Julia’s birth. “The King family paid for my hospital bills,” Roberts explained during A&E Networks and History Channel’s HISTORYTalks event in 2022 (via Vanity Fair).

The Erin Brockovich star also admitted that the Kings’ generous actions really helped her parents “out of a jam.” Sadly, less than six months after Julia’s birth, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

When the story of the King’s generosity was shared on social media, Dr. King and Coretta’s youngest daughter, Bernice, took to Twitter to thank the actress for sharing this wholesome story.

“Grateful that #JuliaRoberts shared this story with Gayle King and that so many people have been awed by it. I know the story well, but it is moving for me to be reminded of my parents’ generosity and influence,” she tweeted.

Julia Roberts Became An Actor Thanks To Martin Luther King Jr.

Ultimately, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s decision to pay for the Roberts family’ hospital bills played a crucial role in Julia Roberts’ future acting career. Without the Kings’ generosity, Julia’s parents would’ve had to sell their acting school to make ends meet.

Without the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop, Julia would never have discovered her passion for acting. Likewise, her brother Eric and, subsequently, her niece Emma Roberts probably wouldn’t have pursued a career in the entertainment industry either.

Thankfully, the Roberts family was able to keep their school, which led all of their children to pursue careers in acting. Today, Julia Roberts has more than 65 acting credits under her belt, including popular movies such as Pretty Woman, Steel Magnolias, Mona Lisa Smile, Eat Pray Love, and Closer.

Although she’s no stranger to box office flops, all of Roberts’s films have collectively grossed more than $3.9 billion across the world, turning her into one of the highest-grossing stars in Hollywood.