Comedian Tony Slattery has died aged 65 following a heart attack, his partner announced.
Slattery appeared on the Channel 4 comedy improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and comedy shows Just A Minute and Have I Got News For You.
A statement on behalf of his partner of more than three decades Mark Michael 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.”
Tributes have been paid by comedians Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, Richard K Herring and Al Murray, along with radio DJ Mike Read.
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Fry, who worked with Slattery on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, hailed him as “the gentlest, sweetest soul”.
In a post on Instagram, Fry said: “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. A cruel irony that fate should snatch him from us just as he had really begun to emerge from his lifelong battle with so many dark demons.
“He had started live ‘evenings with’ and his own podcast series. Lovely, at least, this past year for him to have found to his joyous surprise that he was still remembered and held in great affection.
“Love and condolences to Mark [Hutchinson], his staunch, devoted life partner of almost 40 years.”
Toksvig said: “I don’t think I ever met a more beautiful man than Tony Slattery. I was 19 when we met and thought he was astonishing. Stunning to look at, glorious smile, infectious laugh and a streak of kindness a mile wide. I loved him. We all did. In a crowded room of talent, he was the brightest and the best.”
Born November 9th, 1959, Slattery was the contemporary of Fry, Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie at the University of Cambridge. He was the former president of the improvisation group Cambridge Footlights, and had recently been touring a comedy show in England and launched a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club, in October.
Outside of stand-up, Slattery appeared in 1980s and 1990s films including Neil Jordan’s crime thriller The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends with Laurie, Fry and Thompson, and black comedy How To Get Ahead In Advertising with Richard E Grant.
He also had prominent roles in the theatre, which including receiving a 1995 Olivier Award nod for best comedy performance for the Tim Firth play Neville’s Island, which was later made into a film starring Timothy Spall, and starring in second World War-set production Privates On Parade, based on the film of the same name, as ace impersonator Captain Terri Dennis.
His West End debut was in the 1930s-style musical Radio Times, and on TV he also played a detective in Tiger Bastable, a gentlemen comedy spoof, and the title character in sitcom Just A Gigolo.
But he will be most remembered for his work on the Channel 4 flagship comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which saw performers conduct a series of short improvisation games with suggestions from the host or the audience.
Slattery appeared in 48 episodes from 1988 to 1995, becoming one of the show’s most popular performers. His departure in series seven affected the show’s ratings.
In 2020, Slattery – who regularly spoke openly about his bipolar disorder – revealed he went bankrupt following a battle with substance abuse and mental health issues.
He told the Radio Times that his “fiscal illiteracy and general innumeracy” as well as his “misplaced trust in people” had also contributed to his money problems.
Slattery released the BBC Two Horizon documentary What’s The Matter With Tony Slattery? in the same year, which saw him and Hutchinson visit leading experts on mood disorders and addiction.
He had previously appeared in 2006 BBC Two programme The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive to speak about his condition.
He said: “I rented a huge warehouse by the river Thames. I just stayed in there on my own, didn’t open the mail or answer the phone for months and months and months. I was just in a pool of despair and mania.”
Slattery also made appearances in the final Carry On film Carry On Columbus, Robin Hood, Red Dwarf, The English Harem, Cold Blood, The Royal and Coronation Street.
He won the first Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe along with Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson, was one of the original patrons of Leicester Comedy Festival with Norman Wisdom and Irish comedian Sean Hughes, and had been a rector at the University of Dundee.
Read, who appeared with Slattery on Classic FM quizshow A Question Of Classics alongside late TV host Barry Took, wrote on X: “Very sad news about Tony Slattery ... we had fun. What fun & Tony & Barry were always on top form.”
Murray wrote: “Really sad news about Tony Slattery. Such a dazzling talent,” while Herring posted: “Oh, Tony.”
Tom Walker, best known as the satirical journalist personality Jonathan Pie, called the news “absolutely heartbreaking”, and referred to Slattery as a “genius”.
Absolutely Fabulous actor and comedian Helen Lederer paid tribute to her “best friend” Tony Slattery on social media. “My best friend in laughter, wit, love, absurdity, being my best man (twice), we adored you – what will we do now.”
Comedian and actor Les Dennis said Slattery was “wonderful talent” as he paid tribute to the comedian. “So very sad to hear Tony Slattery has died. A wonderful talent and a nice man. You will be missed Tony,” Dennis wrote on X, formerly Twitter. – PA, Guardian
