Eric is the youngest child of William and Lily van der Woodsen and the younger brother of Serena van der Woodsen. In 2007, Eric was institutionalized for being suicidal. In 2008, Eric came out to his mother and sister as gay after he was outed by Serena's nemesis, Georgina Sparks. Eric is a student at St. Jude's and lives with his mother, step-father, Rufus Humphrey, and step-sister, Jenny Humphrey.