Tony Slattery(1959-2025)

Tony Slattery is an actor, comedian, and singer best known for his seven years as a regular on the UK improvisational comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988). Anthony Declan James Slattery was born on November 9, 1959 in Northern London to working-class Irish immigrants. He is the youngest of five, including one sister and triplet brothers. After completing his schooling at Gunnersbury Boys' Grammar School in West London, Tony won a scholarship to study medieval and modern languages at Cambridge University. His special studies there were Spanish Poetry and French Literature, and while he was there he was introduced to the entertainment business when he met aspiring actor Stephen Fry, who invited him to join the renowned Cambridge Footlights. Tony has stated that from that point on, "getting up on stage and hearing laughter took over." The Footlights won the very first Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival in 1981 for their production of "The Cellar Tapes." In 1982 Tony earned the prestigious honor of being named President of the Footlights, following such luminaries as Eric Idle, Clive Anderson, and Peter Cook. Tony spent his early career appearing in London clubs doing "kind of a variety act with bizarre turns." He also made guest appearances on a number of British television shows, including a stint as host of the children's program TX (1985). Tony's big break came in 1986, when he landed a starring role in the West End musical "Me and My Girl." His other theatrical endeavors included "Radio Times," "Neville's Island," and "Privates on Parade." He earned an Olivier Award nomination for his role as Gordon in "Neville's Island." Tony has also had numerous big-screen roles such as How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989), The Crying Game (1992), "Peter's Friends," "To Die For," released in the US as "Heaven's A Drag," "Up 'N Under," and "The Wedding Tackle". Tony has made his biggest mark in television, having starred in and hosted many programs, including "Saturday Night Stayback," "Just A Gigolo," The Music Game (1992), and Whose Line Is It Anyway? are some of the many shows with which Tony has been involved. After taking a break from performing for personal reasons, Tony has recently resumed his work, starring in a feature film and doing a number of projects for the BBC.