Tony Slattery, the veteran British actor and comedian, who was known globally for his incredible body of work, has sadly passed away.
The comedian and actor, who was known for his improv skills on Channel 4’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?, died on Tuesday. He was 65 at the time of his passing.
BBC reports that the sad news was confirmed by Slattery’s longtime partner, Mark Michael Hutchinson, and confirmed that the cause of death was a heart attack.
In a statement, Hutchinson said: “It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening.”
Tony Slattery was a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway?—a show where performers engage in short-form improvisation games inspired by audience suggestions—from 1988 to 1995. He also appeared in films such as the comedies How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) and Peter’s Friends (1992), as well as the crime thriller The Crying Game (1992).
Born on November 9, 1959, in Stonebridge, North London, Slattery began his theater journey while studying at the University of Cambridge. There, he met Stephen Fry, who encouraged him to join the Cambridge Footlights, the university’s renowned student sketch comedy group. Slattery eventually became the group’s president, sharing the stage with notable contemporaries such as Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Sandi Toksvig, Jan Ravens, and Richard Vranch.
Tony Slattery’s eventual television breakthrough finally came in 1983 on Chris Tarrant’s late-night comedy show Saturday Stayback, where he became a regular performer. He gained further recognition in 1988 as part of Whose Line Is It Anyway? In the 1990s, he appeared on the comedy panel show Have I Got News for You and the quiz program Just a Minute.
Apart from these, Tony Slattery also hosted his own film criticism show, Saturday Night at the Movies, and featured in sitcoms such as That’s Love and Red Dwarf. From 1993 to 1994, he served as the host of Trivial Pursuit on the Family Channel.
Tony Slattery made his final regular appearance on Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1995 before stepping back from the spotlight due to health challenges. His career saw a resurgence in 2005, with roles in the TV film Ahead of the Class, ITV drama series Bad Girls and Life Begins, as well as a stint on the soap opera Coronation Street. He also became a regular on the ITV series Kingdom until 2009. In 2011, Slattery reunited with former castmates for a Whose Line Is It Anyway? reunion special.
Slattery’s final TV appearance was in 2020, when he appeared in the BBC’s Horizon series to explore his mental health, childhood trauma, and battle with addiction. He had been candid about these issues, previously sharing how the “mid-life crisis” following his departure from Whose Line Is It Anyway? led to struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction, ultimately resulting in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Fry shared a touching tribute to Slattery on Instagram, posting a photo of them from their Cambridge days. He wrote: “So very sad to have lost the wonderful Tony Slattery, just about the gentlest, sweetest soul I ever knew. Not to mention a screamingly funny and deeply talented wit and clown. It’s a cruel irony that fate took him from us just as he was finally emerging from a lifetime of dark struggles. He had recently started live ‘evenings with’ and his own podcast series. At least this past year, he was joyfully surprised to discover how much he was still remembered and cherished. Love and condolences to Mark, his devoted life partner of nearly 40 years.”
Slattery is survived by his partner of nearly 40 years, Hutchinson.
