Hailey Tran
In 1967, Julia Roberts' parents were unable to afford the hospital bill for her birth. Fortunately, civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King paid for it as a gift. This story was revealed by Roberts herself in an interview with Gayle King for History Channel's HISTORYTalks series. She spoke about her family's unexpected connection to the two historical figures and expressed gratitude for their generosity. This story surprised many and highlighted an interesting aspect of Roberts' life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of birth | 1967 |
| Parents' names | Walter and Betty Roberts |
| Parents' profession | Actor-playwrights |
| Parents' school | Actors and Writers Workshop |
| Connection with MLK and Coretta Scott King | Their children attended the school |
| Location of the school | Atlanta |
| Location of birth | Smyrna, Georgia |
| Name of the hospital | Crawford Long Hospital |
| People who paid the bill | Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King |
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What You'll Learn
- Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King paid for Julia Roberts' birth
- Julia Roberts' parents couldn't afford the hospital bill
- The King family had a friendship with Roberts' family
- Coretta Scott King's children attended Roberts' parents' school
- Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the Kings, tweeted about Roberts' story
Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King paid for Julia Roberts' birth
In a surprising revelation, Julia Roberts shared that her birth was paid for by none other than Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. This story came to light in September 2022, when Roberts spoke publicly about her family's friendship with the Kings during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The connection between the Roberts and the Kings dates back to the 1950s when Julia Roberts' parents, Walter and Betty Lou Roberts, opened an acting school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop. This school was one of the few places where Black and white students could learn together without racial issues. The Kings, facing difficulty in finding a school that would accept their children, enrolled their kids in the Roberts' school. This act of inclusion fostered a friendship between the two families.
When Julia Roberts was born in 1967, her parents could not afford the hospital bill. Generously, the Kings offered to pay the bill as a gift, demonstrating their kindness and support for the Roberts family. This story has touched many, including Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, who expressed gratitude for Roberts sharing this heartwarming tale of her parents' generosity and influence.
In the interview, Roberts fondly recalled meeting the Kings' children at the acting workshops in the late 1960s and described the atmosphere as that of an extended family, with Black and white children getting along harmoniously. This anecdote sheds light on the lesser-known personal side of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, highlighting their compassion and commitment to supporting others beyond their renowned civil rights activism.
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Julia Roberts' parents couldn't afford the hospital bill
Julia Roberts, the Oscar-winning actress, was born in 1967 in Smyrna, Georgia, to actor-playwrights Walter and Betty Roberts. At the time, her parents ran a theatre school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop.
The Roberts had opened their school to the children of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King after they struggled to find a place that would accept them. The Kings and the Roberts became friends.
When Julia was born, her parents could not afford the hospital bill. As a gift, the Kings paid for it. Julia Roberts first spoke about this publicly in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in September 2022. She expressed gratitude and honour for the Kings' generosity.
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, tweeted her gratitude for Roberts sharing this story and for the awe it inspired in so many people.
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The King family had a friendship with Roberts' family
The King and Roberts families had a friendship that began when Coretta Scott King called Betty Roberts to ask if her children could attend the acting school that Roberts and her husband ran. The school was called the Actors and Writers Workshop and was the only integrated children's theatre group in Atlanta. The King children had been unable to find a school that would accept them.
Yolanda King, the eldest child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, remembered the atmosphere at the school as being like an extended family, with "all these Black kids and white kids getting along, no problems". She also recalled being intimidated by Walter Roberts, Julia Roberts' father, but added that he taught her a lot about life and "grabbing [it] and making the best of it".
In 1967, when Julia Roberts was born, her parents could not afford the hospital bill, so Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King paid for it as a gift. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, expressed gratitude that Julia Roberts shared this story and that so many people were touched by it.
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Coretta Scott King's children attended Roberts' parents' school
In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King paid for Julia Roberts' parents' hospital bill after she was born. At the time, Roberts' parents ran a theatre school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop. Coretta Scott King called Roberts' mother one day and asked if her children could attend the school, as they were having trouble finding a place that would accept them. Roberts' mother agreed, and the families became friends.
Coretta Scott King was a civil rights activist in the United States and a central figure in the civil rights movement alongside her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. She was born in 1927 in Alabama and did well in school, going on to receive a degree in music from college in Ohio. She met Martin Luther King Jr. in Boston, Massachusetts, and they were married in 1953. After his assassination, she continued to be a leader in the civil rights movement, advocating for various causes, including women's rights, LGBT rights, economic issues, and world peace. She received numerous awards and honours throughout her life, including the Key of Life award from the NAACP and the Candace Award for Distinguished Service from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. had four children together: Yolanda, Dexter, Bernice, and Martin Luther King III. The King children attended the Actors and Writers Workshop, the school run by Roberts' parents, where they were among a diverse group of Black and white students learning and getting along without racial problems. This experience reflected the values of racial equality and harmony that the Kings promoted in their civil rights work.
The connection between the Roberts and King families began with the Kings' support for the Roberts family during a difficult financial time, and it evolved into a lasting friendship and mutual admiration. Julia Roberts has expressed gratitude and honour for the Kings' generosity and has publicly shared this story, bringing attention to the intersection of her life with that of a significant historical figure.
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Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the Kings, tweeted about Roberts' story
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, is an American lawyer and minister. She tweeted about her gratitude for Julia Roberts sharing the story of her family's connection with the Kings. In her tweet, Bernice expressed appreciation for Roberts' story and the positive reaction it received from the public. She also acknowledged the generosity and influence of her late parents, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, who had paid for Julia Roberts' birth.
Bernice King's tweet highlighted the significance of Roberts' story, which revealed a unique connection between two notable families. The story gained traction on social media, with business advisor Zara Rahim also tweeting a clip of Roberts' interview, where she publicly spoke about the Kings' generosity for the first time. In the interview, Roberts mentioned that her parents had opened an acting school, and Coretta Scott King had enrolled her children there after facing challenges finding a school that would accept them. This led to a friendship between the two families and the Kings' kind gesture of paying for Roberts' birth expenses.
Bernice King's response to the story sheds light on her family's legacy of generosity and their impact on others. She has followed in her parents' footsteps as a civil rights advocate, becoming a minister and speaking out against issues such as war and sexism. Bernice has also experienced personal tragedy, losing her father to assassination when she was only five years old and her sister Yolanda in 2007. Despite these challenges, she has dedicated her life to mentoring and empowering young people, particularly those facing challenges similar to her own experience of growing up without a father.
The story of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's generosity towards Julia Roberts' family has touched many, including Bernice King. Her tweet not only expresses gratitude but also showcases her appreciation for the positive impact her parents had on others. Bernice's own life and work reflect the values instilled by her parents, as she continues their legacy of activism and compassion through her ministry and advocacy work. The story and its aftermath serve as a reminder of the enduring influence of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, even after their passing.
Bernice King's tweet about Julia Roberts' story is a testament to the power of intergenerational connections and the enduring impact of kindness. By sharing her parents' generous act, Roberts not only honored the Kings' legacy but also inspired a new generation, including Bernice, to reflect on the importance of compassion and gratitude. The story's resonance with the public underscores the enduring relevance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of equality and social justice, reminding us that even small gestures can have a lasting impact.
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Frequently asked questions
Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, paid for the hospital bill for Julia Roberts' birth.
Julia Robert's parents, Walter and Betty Roberts, ran a theatre school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop. Coretta Scott King called Julia's mother and asked if her children could be part of the school as they were facing trouble finding a place that would accept her kids. The families became friends, and the Kings paid for the hospital bill as a gift when the Roberts family could not afford it.
Julia Roberts shared this story for the first time in September 2022 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
