Tim Roth

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18 Feb 2024

Tim Roth

Timothy Simon Roth, born on May 14, 1961, is an English actor and producer who gained prominence as part of the "Brit Pack," a group of prominent British actors. Roth received a BAFTA Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer for his film debut in "The Hit" (1984). He continued to garner attention for his roles in films such as "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" (1989), "Vincent & Theo" and "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead" (both 1990).
Roth has had a notable collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, appearing in several of his films, including "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "Four Rooms" (1995), and "The Hateful Eight" (2015). He received critical acclaim and won a BAFTA Award for his performance in "Rob Roy" (1995), earning nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award.
In addition to his acting career, Roth ventured into directing with his debut film "The War Zone" (1999). He also portrayed Cal Lightman in the Fox series "Lie to Me" (2009–2011) and Jim Worth/Jack Devlin in the Sky Atlantic series "Tin Star" (2017–2020). Roth has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Emil Blonsky/Abomination in "The Incredible Hulk" (2008), "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" (2021), and the Disney+ series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" (2022).

Timothy Simon Roth was born on May 14, 1961, in Dulwich, London, to Ann, a painter and teacher, and Ernie, a Fleet Street journalist and painter. Ernie Roth was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, to a family of Irish descent. Despite not having Jewish ancestry, Ernie changed his surname from "Smith" to "Roth" in the 1940s as an act of anti-Nazi solidarity.
Roth has shared that he is a survivor of child sexual abuse, perpetrated by his paternal grandfather. He disclosed this during press interviews for the 1999 film "The War Zone," which addressed themes of incest and sexual violence within families. However, he did not initially reveal the identity of the perpetrator. In a later interview with The Guardian in December 2016, Roth identified his grandfather as the abuser, noting that his father had also been abused by him as a child.
During his education, Roth attended school in Lambeth before transferring to Croydon Technical School due to bullying. He later enrolled at the Strand School in Tulse Hill. Initially aspiring to become a sculptor, Roth pursued studies at London's Camberwell College of Arts.

Timothy Roth's career flourished in the 1980s and 1990s with notable appearances in both television and film. In the 1980s, he starred in television films such as "Made in Britain," "Meantime," and "Murder with Mirrors." Following his film debut in "The Hit," Roth received the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Newcomer. He portrayed an East End character in "King of the Ghetto," a BBC drama based on a novel by Farukh Dhondy.
Roth gained international recognition in the 1990s with roles in films like "Vincent & Theo," where he played Vincent van Gogh, and "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead." He became widely known after collaborating with Quentin Tarantino on films such as "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," and "Four Rooms."
One of Roth's acclaimed performances came in "Rob Roy," where he portrayed Archibald Cunningham. For this role, he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and received nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He also appeared in Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You," "The Legend of 1900," and "Gridlock'd" alongside Tupac Shakur.
Roth made his directorial debut with "The War Zone," and later appeared in "Planet of the Apes" as General Thade. Despite being considered for the role of Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" series, Roth declined, and the role went to Alan Rickman.
In the 2000s and beyond, Roth continued to impress with roles in various films such as "Youth Without Youth," "Funny Games," and "The Incredible Hulk," where he played Emil Blonsky / Abomination. He also starred in the television series "Lie to Me" as Cal Lightman and appeared in documentaries like "Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut)." Additionally, he served as the President of the Jury for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
Roth's diverse career includes portrayals of FIFA President Sepp Blatter in "United Passions," and Oswaldo Mobray in "The Hateful Eight." He reprised his role as Emil Blonsky / Abomination in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and the Disney+ series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" (2022).

Timothy Roth's personal life has seen both joy and tragedy. His son Jack, born to Lori Baker in 1984, followed in his father's footsteps and became an actor.
In 1993, Roth married Nikki Butler, with whom he had two sons, Hunter and Cormac. Sadly, Cormac, who pursued a career in music, passed away at the young age of 25 from germ cell cancer on October 16, 2022. This loss undoubtedly left a profound impact on Roth and his family.
Outside of his acting career, Roth is known for his activism and political views. He is a supporter of the Green Party of England and Wales, advocating for environmental and social causes.
During the 2016 US presidential election, Roth endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President. He has been openly critical of former President Donald Trump, expressing strong opposition to his policies and rhetoric. Roth's disdain for Trump is evident in his statements, where he has expressed a deep-seated aversion to the former president's actions and beliefs, stating that Trump should never be forgotten or forgiven for his words and actions during his campaign and time in office.