Tony Slattery
Date of birth: 09-11-1959Date of death: 14-01-2025
Tony Slattery was a member of the 1981 Cambridge Footlights, which won the first Perrier award at the Edinburgh Fringe, alongside Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson. He appeared on a number of TV shows but his breakthrough was improvising on Whose Line Is It Anyway? from 1989. He was also been a regular with the Comedy Store Players. Acting credits included roles in The Crying Game, Carry On Columbus, Peter's Friends and Red Dwarf.
However his work was been overshadowed by personal problems, with excessive drinking and cocaine use culminating in 1996 with a six-month period as a recluse, during which he did not answer his door or telephone. Eventually, one of his friends broke down the door of his flat and persuaded him to go to hospital, and he was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder.
He made a comeback with a show at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe, and made an unflinching 2020 documentary examining his history of mental health problems.
He died on January 14, 2025 after suffering aheart attack.
