Tim Roth opens up on heartbreaking loss of his son aged 25

Actor Tim Roth has bravely spoken out about losing his son at the age of 25.

Roth, best known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, opened up about the tragic loss of his son Cormac in a new interview with The Guardian.

The actor shared about how he had just finished shooting a film about bereavement when his son died.

Cormac Roth was a musician, working as a guitarist and composer, and was diagnosed with stage three germ cell cancer in November of 2021.

He died in late 2022.

His father now faces the difficult job of having to promote the film, Poison, which he was working on just a short few months before his son’s death.

The topic itself is ‘poignant’, according to him, with the film being an adaptation of a famous play in which an estranged couple are reunited 10 years after their son’s death.

Tim Roth and his son Cormac at Cannes (VALERY HACHE via Getty Images)

He spoke in the interview about how he had considered dropping out when his son received his cancer diagnosis.

He said: “[Cormac] was unfazed by me doing the film.

“He thought it was a good thing. He was probably wanting to get me out of the house as well.

“It had his seal of approval, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it. If he needed me to stay close, I would have been staying close.”

Tim Roth stars in the film alongside Trine Dyrholm (Deal Productions)

Roth also added: “[Poison] was actually dealing with something which now is very, very poignant as far as our family is concerned. There is no one way of grieving.

“People react differently – everyone does – otherwise there would be a cure for it.

“The film has such a truth to it because it shows that how you grieve is as individual as a fingerprint.

“Now, with my friends and family, I see that everyone is doing and handling that differently, and need to be respected for it.”

The movie is a directorial debut for Désirée Nosbusch, who herself had to deal with a health scare involving her son years prior.

Cormac died following a stage three cancer diagnosis (Steve Granitz via Getty Images)

She described how she did not go up to the legendary British actor every day to ask him how he was doing, adding: “It was all with looks. Sometimes he needed a break and I go, ‘Sure.’”

The Roth family released the following statement after Cormac’s death: “He was a wild and electric ball of energy and his spirit was filled with light and goodness.

“As wild as he was, Cormac was also the embodiment of kindness. A gentle soul who brought so much happiness and hope to those around him.

“The grief comes in waves, as do the tears and laughter, when we think of that beautiful boy across the 25 years and 10 months that we knew him.

“An irrepressible and joyful and wild and wonderful child. Only recently a man. We love him. We will carry him with us wherever we go.”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.