Eli Roth is an American director, writer, actor and producer, known for directing highly controversial horror films like ‘Hostel’. Born and brought up in Massachusetts, USA, Eli was always interested in filmmaking since his early childhood. Before reaching adulthood, he had already made about 100 short films with the help of his family and friends. Roth managed to grab eyeballs when he made the student film, ‘Restaurant Dogs’, inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Reservoir Dogs’. His film won the Oscar award for Best Student film and that paved the way for Roth to enter the industry with confidence.
After working under David Lynch for a few years, Eli began to venture on his own, but found it hard to gather enough money for his feature length script titled ‘Cabin Fever’ and hence, decided to start his career with acting. He made his acting debut through ‘The Horse Whisperer’ and finally made and released ‘Cabin Fever’ as his debut directorial flick in 2002. The film went on to achieve critical and commercial acclaim.
Influenced by the likes of David Lynch and Japanese gore films, he directed ‘Hostel’ in 2005. Roth continued to work in the horror genre, directing the films Hostel: Part II (2007), The Green Inferno (2013) and Thanksgiving (2023). He also expanded into other genres, directing the erotic thriller film Knock Knock (2015) and the action film Death Wish (2018), a remake of the 1974 original. Also in 2018, he directed the fantasy comedy film The House with a Clock in Its Walls, his first PG-rated film and his highest domestic grosser to date.
As an actor, Roth starred as Donny “The Bear Jew” Donowitz in Quentin Tarantino’s war film Inglourious Basterds (2009), for which he received a Critic’s Choice Movie Award and a SAG Award as part of the ensemble.
Roth’s role in Quentin Tarantino’s segment of the 2007 film Grindhouse, Death Proof, came about because Tarantino was impressed by Roth’s brief part as Justin in Cabin Fever. Roth—who left pre-production on Hostel: Part II in Prague and flew to Austin, Texas, to film the scene at the Texas Chili Parlor—said that working as an actor for Tarantino is “like taking a master class in directing”. He quipped that the only directors he would ever act for are people who have won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Outside of these films and his own, Roth has appeared in a cameo role as a contest emcee in Alexandre Aja’s 2010 film Piranha 3D and in the 2012 musical film Rock of Ages, among others. Roth has also appeared in several projects that David Lynch directed for his website davidlynch.com.
