Roach was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his father was a military worker. He graduated from Eldorado High School in 1975. He received a BA in economics from Stanford University in 1980 and later earned an M.F.A. in film production from the University of Southern California in 1986.
His directing credits include the Emmy-winning HBO film Recount, which earned Roach two Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special and Outstanding Made for Television Movie in addition to a DGA Award. He also directed the HBO film Game Change about the 2008 McCain/Palin campaign, which premiered March 2012 as one of the most watched films in HBO history. The film also gave him his third and fourth win Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special & Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, as well as a Golden Globe and Peabody Award. His other directing credits include Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers and Mystery, Alaska.
