He’s shared the screen with legends, played villains and antiheroes, and shaped some of the most unforgettable roles in film. But what happened within Tim Roth’s own family is a story far more personal and heartbreaking.
Tim Roth has built a career playing some of cinema’s most intense and unpredictable characters. But behind the camera, his most committed role has always been that of a father.
In interviews over the years, Tim has spoken candidly about his three sons — his first, Jack, born in 1984 with Lori Baker, and two younger sons with his wife, fashion designer Nikki Butler.
Tim Roth Met His Wife at the Sundance Film Festival
Tim and Nikki met at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival, where he was promoting his movie “Reservoir Dogs.” He later told The Guardian that he thought she was “way out of his league.” The fact that she had not seen any of his films endeared her to him.
By the time the Hollywood premiere of the movie came in October 1992, she was on his arm as his date. The couple married a year later while he was shooting “Heart of Darkness” in the jungle of Belize.
The usually media-shy actor told their elopement story to a newspaper, “I went and got a tattoo of her initials on my arm, and then I went and had a beer with my mate, and went, ‘Right then, we’re off,’ and I got back and did the deed. It’s a private story, but she thought I was going to break up with her. It was a good one.”
A Father Coming to Terms with Change
For Tim, fatherhood has never been a footnote. It’s been central to his identity. “I wanted to make sure my kids went to school without coming out with a mortgage hanging around their necks,” he once said, reflecting a quiet but persistent drive to protect them emotionally and financially.
As his children grew, Tim found himself confronting the emotional distance that often comes with their independence. The transition wasn’t easy. “They don’t need me the way I want them to,” he admitted. “They’re breaking all those bonds, and it’s quite disturbing and saddening… It’s magnificent, but it’s difficult.”
In a past interview, Tim, known for his steely on-screen presence, opened up about the deep emotional shifts of parenthood — of loving fiercely while learning to let go.
On set, Tim often formed close bonds with younger actors. He spoke fondly of working with Eloise Laurence, who played his daughter in “Broken.” She called him her “other dad,” a reflection of the warmth he brought to those around him.
Alongside fellow creatives who were also parents, Tim formed what he jokingly referred to as a “creatively concerned parents’ collective.” It was a family of a different kind, bound by shared experiences of raising children while working in film.
But in recent years, Tim’s journey as a father took a heartbreaking turn. One of his sons passed away, a devastating event that cast a long shadow over his family life.
In the sections that follow, we look closer at each of Tim’s three sons, at their lives, their relationships with their father, and the loss that forever changed this quiet, loving family.
Cormac Roth: A Brilliant Light Gone Too Soon
Cormac carried music in his bones. From a young age, he could be found with a guitar that was larger than him, strumming out the early sounds of what would become a powerful creative voice.
As he grew, that voice matured into something extraordinary. He became a skilled guitarist, composer, and producer whose career was just beginning to take shape. His talent stood out, and so did his energy.
In November 2021, Cormac received a diagnosis that would change the course of his life. He had stage 3 germ cell cancer, a rare form called choriocarcinoma. He chose to share his struggle publicly in July 2022, writing with raw honesty about what he faced.
“It has taken away half of my hearing, 60 pounds of weight, my confidence… But it hasn’t taken away my will to survive, or my love of making music,” he shared. Through chemo, surgeries, transplants, and setbacks, Cormac kept creating. He held on to music as a lifeline and reached out to others going through similar battles.
He ended his message with a reminder that was both fierce and tender: “Life is short. It is chaos. And you never know when it’s going to be you. Be well and go to the doctor.”
Cormac passed away on October 16, 2022, at the age of 25. “He died peacefully in the arms of his family who loved and adored him,” the Roths shared in a statement. “He fought with incredible bravery… and maintained his wicked wit and humour to the very end.”
The actor spoke about Cormac publicly in 2025, during the promotion of his film “Poison.” The story, which follows grieving parents meeting at the grave of their son, hit close to home.
Tim didn’t take the role lightly. He had shared the script with Cormac while he was still alive. “I talked to him about the film, and he encouraged me to go and make it,” the actor said. “And then he died after it was completed.”
Making the film forced Tim to confront emotions he wasn’t sure he was ready to face. But he found purpose in honoring Cormac’s encouragement.
The grief he carried became part of the story on screen. “Grieving is as random as a fingerprint,” he said. “It hits everybody very very differently.”
Through this loss, Tim has remained open about the pain of losing his son. He continues to carry Cormac’s memory, not just as a father in mourning but as someone determined to keep his son’s spirit alive through truth, through art, and through love.
Jack Roth: Carving His Own Path
Jack was born in 1984. He is the first son of Tim and award-winning writer and producer Lori Baker. Acting was not something he trained for in drama school. It was something he absorbed from life around him. He grew up with storytelling in his blood, surrounded by performance.
Despite that, Jack forged his own path. His career took shape quietly, through roles that demanded presence rather than fame. One of his early standout performances came in “Great Expectations” (2011), where he portrayed the bitter and vengeful Dolge Orlick.
A year later, he played Max in “Bedlam,” a psychological thriller series that explored the dark spaces of the mind. Jack didn’t seek the spotlight, but it still found him. He appeared in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the blockbuster Queen biopic that went on to win four Academy Awards.
His involvement in such a high-profile film marked a milestone in a steadily building career. Somewhere along the way, he even landed a small role in “Game of Thrones,” though his father admitted that he has never watched the show.
In 2019, Tim spoke candidly about the challenges of acting. He acknowledged the pride he felt in his son’s achievements but also expressed his reservations about the industry.
“I wouldn’t encourage anyone, to become an actor” he said. “There are so many great actors who can’t find work.”
Outside of acting, Jack is also exploring music. Like his younger brother Cormac, he has turned to sound as another form of expression.
Timothy Hunter Roth: The Quiet Thread in a Creative Family
In a family shaped by public lives and artistic careers, Timothy has chosen a quieter path. Timothy has remained largely out of the spotlight. Unlike his brothers, Jack and Cormac, he has kept his life private, away from cameras and interviews.
Only a few glimpses of him have been seen over the years — childhood photos captured on red carpets beside his parents and brother Cormac. Those rare appearances revealed a boy surrounded by love and warmth, sharing in the quiet moments behind his father’s fame.
Though little has been made public about his personal or professional life, Timothy grew up in a home filled with creativity. His father’s world of film, his mother’s work in fashion, and his brothers’ musical and acting pursuits created an atmosphere rich with artistic energy.
A Father to the End: Tim’s Unshakable Bond with His Family
Over the years, Tim has inhabited characters who make impossible choices — some who walk away, others who unravel. In “Sundown,” he played Neil, a man who turns his back on family and responsibility.
When asked if he could ever relate to that, Tim didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think I could ever do that to my family,” he said. “I think I’d be more caring.”
His roles have been dark, cold, and detached. However, off-screen, Tim’s heart has always remained anchored in his family. He acknowledged that work can be overwhelming and that the industry can push people to extremes.
Still, Tim couldn’t see himself making Neil’s choice. He wouldn’t disappear or leave. Family, to him, is not a burden — it’s a responsibility, a source of pride, and above all, a lifelong commitment.
