Tim Roth Says His Grandfather Sexually Abused Him And His Dad

Tim Roth and his father were both sexually abused by Roth’s grandfather, the actor alleged in a Guardian interview published Sunday.

Roth, who has appeared in the Quentin Tarantino films “The Hateful Eight,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs,” was discussing his father’s political leanings when he made the disclosure.

“[My dad] was a damaged soul,” the 55-year-old said. “I loved him. He was funnier than fuck. He was abused. And I was abused. But I was not abused by him. I was abused by his abuser.”

When asked to confirm his accusation, Roth responded, “Yeah. It was his father. He was a fucking rapist. But nobody had the language. Nobody knew what to do. That’s why I made ‘The War Zone.’”

Roth’s 1999 directorial debut centered on incest. He previously addressed the abuse he suffered but withheld details. “It happened during my childhood up to my early teens and although I’m not going to say who it was, he’s long gone now,” he said in a 2009 interview.

Outlets have noted that this is perhaps the first time Roth has publicly identified his alleged abuser.