Eric was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, grew up in London, Ontario, and spent time in Brisbane, Australia.

He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (acting) from the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) in 1980 and apprenticed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

In 2013 he starred in the direct-to-video action film The Package alongside "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Dolph Lundgren.

[3] He also recurred as Maurice, father of Belle, in the popular ABC show Once Upon a Time.

[4] Eric mostly lives in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada with his wife Peg and their two children.