Actor and comedian Tony Slattery was probably best known as an improv actor on the British show “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” According to IMDB, he appeared on 49 episodes of the show from 1988 to 1995.
Now his family has shared the sad news of his death. In a statement shared with the BBC on behalf of Slattery’s partner, Mark Michael Hutchinson, the family shares, “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.”
No other details surrounding his death or his health leading up to the heart attack were shared in the statement.
According to Slattery’s IMDB biography, he was born in London in 1959. He has four older siblings and attended Gunnersbury Boys’ Grammar School in West London. He went on to earn a scholarship to Cambridge University where he studied medieval and modern languages.
While studying Spanish Poetry and French Literature, he also decided to try to break into the entertainment industry. Aspiring actor Steven Fry invited Slattery to join the Cambridge Footlights, and that was the beginning of his love for being on stage.
Slattery explained that “getting up on stage and hearing laughter took over.”
Tony Slattery has passed away at the age of 65. R.I.P Tony 😇🙏 pic.twitter.com/xS7hCN2lTF
— 🇬🇧📺 Classic British TV 📺🇬🇧 (@Classicbritcom) January 14, 2025
In 1981, the Footlights won the first ever Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival, and the following year, Slattery was named president of the Footlights.
Early in his career, Slattery performed at clubs in London as well as on several British TV series. He even hosted the British children’s show “TX.”
In 1986, Slattery got his big break when he was cast in the starring role in the West End musical “Me and My Girl.” That was just the first of multiple theatrical performances throughout his career.
Slattery also appeared on the big screen in multiple movies including “How to Get Ahead in Advertising,” “The Crying Game,” and “The Wedding Tackle.”
He appeared in multiple television series as well including “The Music Game,” “Saturday Night Stayback” and “Whole Line Is It Anyway.”
Watch the video below to see some highlights of Slattery’s comedy, but be aware that this is an uncensored video.