Eli Raphael Roth is a famed American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. As a producer and director, he is known primarily for his work in the horror genre, particularly splatter films, having directed films like Cabin Fever (2003) and Hostel (2005).

ELI ROTH BIOGRAPHY: AGE, EARLY LIFE, FAMILY, EDUCATION

Roth was born on April 18, 1972 (Eli Roth age: 51), in Newton, Massachusetts. His mother, Cora Roth, worked as a painter, while his father, Sheldon Roth, was a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst and clinical professor at Harvard medical school. Roth was born as the middle of three children. He has an older brother, Adam Roth, as well as a younger brother, Gabriel Roth. 

Roth was born and raised Jewish, as his family was comprised of Jewish emigrants who fled from places like Austria, Russia, Hungary and Poland. In addition to English, Roth speaks Italian, French and some basic Russian.

At just 8 years old, Roth started shooting films with his two brothers. He and his brothers wound up making over a hundred short films before he graduated from Newton South High School and attended film school at New York University. 

During his college years, Roth supported his film projects by working as an online cybersex operator for Penthouse magazine, assuming the identity of a woman. Additionally, he took on the role of a production assistant for feature films. Roth also ran the office of producer Frederick Zollo, leaving after graduation in order to focus entirely on his screenwriting.

ELI ROTH BIOGRAPHY: CAREER

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Roth revealed his most memorable moment working alongside fellow film director Quentin Tarantino in the popular World War II drama film Inglourious Basterds.

“Yeah, I will never forget when we were filming in the cave,” Roth recalled. “When I was in the cave ready to do my bat scene for the first day when we finally, finally got to come out of the cave. We were shooting in this ravine for about six days, and Quentin kept me back in this cave. I was hitting a punching bag and I was psyching myself up for this kill and thinking of all these horrible things. And then Quentin would go, ‘Ok! That’s a wrap! We’re done for the day.’ And when he finally, finally let me out after four days of working me up, I was like an animal ready to spring. And when I finally came out with a bat and just walloped the guy, it was such an incredible feeling. Quentin just looks at me and just goes [double thumbs up sign], and whenever he does the two thumbs up, you know you’ve done a good job.”

Roth then went on to discuss his experience shooting the film in Germany, given his background.

“I’m a Jewish guy from Boston, playing a Jewish guy from Boston,” Roth proclaimed. “The idea I had of Germany was basically what I’d seen in the movies. I’d visited, but never really lived there. It was so satisfying to see that the Germans hate the Nazis as much as we do. I never really understood that. And whenever I’d kill a Nazi character, they [the Germans] would have the biggest smile on their face because they felt that they too were participating in the death, because you have generations and generations of Germans that grew up after World War II that had nothing to do with this and the whole world is mad at them about the Holocaust. So, they’re bearing the burden of what their grandparents did. So, for me, it was an amazing experience. Especially when I was shooting the film within the film, the black and white footage Nation’s Pride. That was extremely satisfying to do all that in Berlin.”

When asked what he did to prepare for his role, this is what Roth had to say:

“Well, I grew up in Boston. So, I went back there and I was in character. Actually, there’s a scene of me cutting hair. I trained to cut hair with our producer Pilar Savone’s father, Umberto. I just went through my whole life and thought I kind of had to connect the dots to the most painful memories of my life and put them into the script and stir them up right before I went to shoot. And I put on 40 pounds of muscle. I hit the gym seven days a week. So, I’ve kept a lot of it on, but luckily, let a lot of the angry stuff go.”

ELI ROTH BIOGRAPHY: AWARDS

Throughout his career, Roth has received numerous accolades, including the Screen Actors Guild Award and BFCA Critic’s Choice Award for his captivating role in Inglourious Basterds. In addition, Hostel Part Two was nominated for best horror film, with Roth being nominated as best director. It also appeared on Entertainment Weekly’s top 20 horror films over the past 20 years.

For his significant contribution to the horror genre, Roth earned himself the Visionary Award at the Stanley Film Festival in 2013.

ELI ROTH BIOGRAPHY: PERSONAL LIFE

Roth dated Chilean model and actress Lorenza Izzo for quite some time before the couple decided to tie the knot in November of 2014, on the beach of the Chilean town Zapallar. After five years of marriage, however, the couple decided to separate and their divorce was finalized in August of 2019.

Roth is a highly ambitious person who likes to have fun in extreme danger. He has often been seen diving with sharks and skiing during adverse conditions. He loves to travel and visit new places, rich with their own unique traditions and culture.

 

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