Erik was a real gentleman with European good manners, quite the opposite from Rudolf.
He had a beautiful speaking voice, and was an actor briefly in Denmark after he semi-retired from ballet.
Because he was deeply committed to his life in ballet, he was very concerned about his work. I think it made him suffer as he grew older, and it got harder and harder to maintain the excellence. Any dancer feels this way, but for a super-star it had to be hard for him.
He loved to smoke. It calmed his nerves. I must say, nobody smoked a cigarette the way he did! He did everything with style and grace, and very masculine.
He drank but I never saw him drunk. He could hold his liquor. The Danes drink a lot, it's part of their culture. Again, like smoking, it calmed his nerves.