Tony Slattery
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Tony Slattery | |
---|---|
Born | Tony Declan James Slattery 9 November 1959 |
Education | Trinity Hall, Cambridge (BA) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1982–present |
Partner | Mark Michael Hutchinson (1986–present) |
Tony Declan James Slattery (born 9 November 1959) is an English actor and comedian. He appeared on British television regularly from the mid-1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. His serious and comedic film work has included roles in The Crying Game, Peter's Friends and How to Get Ahead in Advertising.
Early life and education
Slattery was born in
In 2019 Slattery revealed that he had been repeatedly
At the University of Cambridge, Slattery discovered a love of the theatre, taking delight in making people laugh. He met
In 1981, Slattery, Fry, Laurie, Thompson and Toksvig won the inaugural
Television and film
Slattery first broke into television as a regular performer on
As a dramatic actor he has appeared in The Crying Game, To Die For, Peter's Friends and The Wedding Tackle.
At the end of the 1980s he became a film critic, presenting his own show on British television, Saturday Night at the Movies. He also appeared in the ITV sitcom That's Love with Jimmy Mulville. Other TV appearances include The Music Game alongside Richard Vranch and as a regular guest on Ruby Wax and Clive Anderson's chat shows. In 1988, Slattery appeared in the BBC sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, in the episode "Kryten" he played the voice of the main character on Kryten's favourite soap opera, "Androids", a parody of the Australian soap opera Neighbours.
He has also been a regular guest with the Comedy Store Players, both at the
Early in the 1990s he appeared on so many TV shows that he became a target of satire. For example, the
In 1990, he appeared as a contestant on
In 1992 he appeared in the film Carry On Columbus. In the same year he appeared in the series Dead Ringer, filmed for the observation round in The Krypton Factor. Also in 1992 Slattery appeared as a contestant on the Channel 4 show GamesMaster, in which he said that he hated video games. He played the real-time arcade shooter Who Shot Johnny Rock?, deliberately failing the challenge by shooting an innocent victim in the game.[citation needed]
In 1993 he starred in the ITV sitcom Just a Gigolo.
In 1994, Slattery auditioned for the title role in the then upcoming revival of Doctor Who.
Personal problems later overshadowed Slattery's career, leading to a reduced profile. He made his last appearance on Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1995, and due to an extended period of illness, he undertook only occasional television work from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. He reappeared in Red Dwarf in 1999 as the voice of a vending machine that threatens Arnold Rimmer in the final episode of the series' initial BBC2 run, "Only the Good...".
The year 2005 was a busy one for Slattery. He appeared in the TV film
In April 2006, Slattery appeared in
In March 2011, Slattery appeared in a reunion special of Whose Line Is It Anyway? along with David Walliams, Josie Lawrence, Clive Anderson, Humphrey Ker and Neil Mullarkey for the BBC Comic Relief show 24-Hour Panel People.
In 2020 Slattery and his partner Mark Hutchinson featured in an edition of the BBC Horizon series entitled "What's the Matter with Tony Slattery?". In a detailed examination of his mental health, childhood trauma and substance addictions, medical professionals concluded that Slattery continued to experience the effects of trauma relating to childhood abuse; was on the bi-polar spectrum; and suffered alcohol dependence. The professionals advised Slattery on steps to take to improve his mental health and his physical wellbeing.[8][2]
Theatre and comedy
In 1981 he teamed with Richard Vranch as a comedic duo calling themselves "Aftertaste". For a number of years they toured throughout Great Britain performing in small venues: theatres and clubs, most notably the Tunnel Club, King's Head Theatre in London and aboard the Thekla, then known as the "Old Profanity Showboat" in Bristol. Together they hosted the Channel 4 quiz The Music Game and over 100 episodes of Cue the Music on ITV.
Possessing a
as well as in the play Neville's Island.In 1994, Slattery became a founding patron of Leicester Comedy Festival alongside Norman Wisdom, appearing at the first festival in 1996 and again in 2020.
In May 2006 he was the first voice of the narrator in the 35th anniversary theatre production of
On 20–22 and 24 July 2010, he appeared in
In 2014, Slattery appeared in the Oxford Jericho "Name in the Hat" revue alongside Kriss Akabusi.[citation needed][clarification needed]
Personal life
In the mid-1990s, after leaving
In 1996 Slattery's crisis culminated with a six-month period as a recluse, during which he did not answer his door or telephone, "or open bills, or wash... I just sat." Eventually, one of his friends broke down the door of his flat and persuaded him to go to hospital. He was diagnosed with
In May 1998 he was elected as Rector of the University of Dundee, however his poor attendance record with a single visit in a one-year period led to calls for his resignation from students. The official view was that it would not be worthwhile ousting him, because his term would end in February 2001.[12]
He has said: "I'm happily described as gay", and has been in a relationship with the actor Mark Michael Hutchinson since 1986.[13]
In March 2019 he held a Comedy Gala in Hoylake, Merseyside to raise money for a charity close to his heart, Bipolar UK. The night included sets from a variety of comedians.[citation needed]
In September 2020 Slattery signed a publishing deal to write his memoirs.[14]
References
- ^ Deborah Ross: "All the rage, and how he survived it: Tony Slattery", The Independent (London), 18 May 1998
- ^ a b "BBC Two - Horizon, 2020, What's the Matter with Tony Slattery?". BBC.
- ^ Hadley Freeman (30 April 2019). "Tony Slattery: Something happened when I was very young. A priest. I was eight". The Irish Times.
- ^ Jay Richardson (23 July 2019). "Tony Slattery: 'I promise to behave myself'". The List.
- ^ Independent.co.uk. 22 October 2011.
- ^ Lappin, Tom (25 October 1991). "Panic stations". The List. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Tony Slattery, comedian news : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "BBC – What's The Matter With Tony Slattery? – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b Hadley Freeman (29 April 2019). "Tony Slattery: 'I had a very happy time until I went slightly barmy'". The Guardian.
- ^ Miranda Sawyer (6 July 2003). "Miranda Sawyer meets Tony Slattery". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "RHLSTP". www.rhlstp.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Calls for rector Slattery to go: Students criticise comedian's poor attendance record with only one visit in the past year". HeraldScotland. 19 October 2000.
- ^ Dominic Cavendish (19 July 2017). "Tony Slattery interview – 'I had used a lot of myself up, in the wrong way'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Tony Slattery signs a book deal : News 2020 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
External links
- Official website
- Tony Slattery at IMDb