Bio
Tim Roth is a British actor best known for his roles in the Tarantino films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. He also starred as Dr Cal Lightman in the television drama series Lie to Me, from 2009-2011.
Roth has made a career of playing notable characters in independent films. He made his feature debut in Rob Roy opposite Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange in a role that earned him Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama.
Roth was most recently seen in The Incredible Hulk opposite Ed Norton, Francis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth and Funny Games opposite Naomi Watts. He recently finished shooting Alexandre Rockwell's Pete Smalls Is Dead with Steve Buscemi.
His appearance in Sam Shepard's off-Broadway production of The God of Hell marked Roth's return to the theatre. Early in his career, Roth appeared in and received tremendous reviews for his role in the stage production of Kafka's The Metamorphosis.
His first job in front of the camera was the lead in the controversial British Prix Italia Award-winning telefilm Made in Britain. His second project followed on the heels of his award-winning work when he starred in Michael Leigh's critically acclaimed film Meantime.
As his success continued, Roth starred in over 15 film and television projects including Stephen Frears' The Hit, for which he won the Standard Award for Best Newcomer; The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Gary Oldman; and Robert Altman's Vincent and Theo, in which he portrayed Vincent Van Gogh.
Brought up on American films like Taxi Driver and Mean Streets, Roth always wanted to come to the U.S., so he jumped at the chance when he was asked to take part in a publicity tour for Vincent and Theo. Shortly thereafter, he made the U.S. his permanent home, and has since continued on the same path with off-beat films.
Roth gained worldwide recognition for his roles in the Quentin Tarantino films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. In Reservoir Dogs, he portrayed Mr. Orange alongside Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn and Steve Buscemi. In Pulp Fiction, Roth was part of an all-star ensemble cast that included John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel Jackson and Harvey Keitel.
Roth made his directorial debut in 1999 with the critically acclaimed adaptation of Alexander Stuart's The War Zone starring Ray Winstone. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and was also at the Cannes Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival.
His other credits include Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes opposite Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter; Lucky Numbers directed by Nora Ephron; Giuseppe Tornatore's Legend of 1900; Werner Herzog's first English language film, Invincible; Jumpin' at the Boneyard; Bodies, Rest and Motion; Murder in the Heartland; Heart of Darkness opposite John Malkovich; Four Rooms; Little Odessa; Captives; Gridlock'd; Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You; Hoodlum; Deceiver; Silver City; Even Money opposite Danny Devito and Kim Basinger; and Wim Wenders' Don't Come Knockin'.
Roth was born in London, and currently resides in Los Angeles.