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Roth displayed his range with a tour-de-force performance as tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh in Robert Altman's study of fraternity, VINCENT & THEO (1990). That same year, he proved his comic mettle opposite Gary Oldman in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (1990), Tom Stoppard's worm's eye view of Hamlet. Taking a cue from fellow Brit Oldman, Roth headed for the States where he began turning in convincing portraits of fringe Americans, beginning with the downbeat drama JUMPIN AT THE BONEYARD (1992). Roth received one of his best-known screen roles to date in Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS (1992). As Mr. Orange, an undercover cop involved in a botched bank heist, Roth screamed and flailed about in his own blood for over two hours while holding his own against a formidable ensemble that included Lawrence Tierney, Harvey Keitel and Steve Buscemi. He reteamed with Tarantino to play a Cockney coffee shop robber in the framing sequence of PULP FICTION (1994). Roth turned up in his first Hollywood project co-starring opposite Liam Neeson and Jessica Lang in the would-be-epic ROB ROY (1995). Cast as a foppish sword-wielding henchman, he walked away with the best reviews for his over-the-top scene chewing. He again declared his independence with a worthy little film − the relentlessly grim LITTLE ODESSA (1995). Part crime story, part family drama, the film featured Roth as a low-rent hitman for the Russian mob in New York's Brighton Beach section. His intensity reminded many critics of the young Robert De Niro. Roth has displayed a penchant for working with first-time directors including Stoppard (ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN), Tarantino (RESERVOIR DOGS), Michael Steinberg (BODIES, REST & MOTION) and James Grey (LITTLE ODESSA). His more recent screen credits include VATEL and LUCKY NUMBERS (both 2000) and the remake of PLANET OF THE APES (2001), plus INVINCIBLE and THE MUSKETEER (also 2001), EMMETT'S MARK (2002), WHATEVER WE DO and TO KILL A KING (both 2003), THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, WITH IT, SILVER CITY and NOUVELLE-FRANCE (all 2004), THE LAST SIGN, DON'T COME KNOCKING and DARK WATER (all 2005), EVEN MONEY (2006), YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH, FUNNY GAMES and VIRGIN TERRITORY (all 2007), THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008), KING CONQUEROR (2009), and MACHETE and PETE SMALLS IS DEAD (both 2010). Since 2009, Roth has played Dr. Cal Lightman on the TV series "Lie to Me".
1 nomination |
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Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role