Last Updated: 15 Jan, 2025 | Views: 61
Age: 65
Profession: Actor
Other Profession(s): Comedian
Famous For: His Show Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Higher Education: Trinity Hall, Cambridge (BA)
About (Profile/Biography):
Tony Slattery is a British comedian, actor, and improv master who rose to prominence in the 1980s comedy scene. Born in London to working-class Irish parents, he displayed remarkable academic prowess early in life, winning a scholarship to study Medieval and Modern Languages at Cambridge University. There, he became part of the famous Footlights comedy group alongside peers like Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Known for his quick wit and versatility, Slattery became a household name through shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" before personal struggles led to a dramatic career shift in the late 1990s.
Early Life of Tony Slattery
• The entertainer was born Anthony Declan James Slattery on November 9, 1959, in North London.
• Young Tony was considered a child prodigy, mastering piano and showing exceptional academic abilities.
• The comedian turned down a place at Oxford University to attend Cambridge instead.
• The future star worked as a Sunday school teacher during his teenage years.
Tony Slattery’s Education & Early Career:
• The Cambridge student became president of the Footlights in 1981.
• Slattery earned the title of Cambridge's "Shortest-Serving President" after being forced to step down due to academic commitments.
• The rising performer toured with Stephen Fry in a two-man show during university days.
• The young actor appeared in over 40 different theater productions while at Cambridge.
Television Career of Tony Slattery
• The comedy star became a regular on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" from 1988 to 1994.
• Slattery hosted his own TV show called "S&M" with Mike McShane in 1991.
• The versatile performer appeared in all episodes of "Just a Minute" during 1989.
• The actor starred in Peter Greenaway's controversial film "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover."
Personal Struggles faced by Tony Slattery
• The entertainer spent nearly £4,000 per week on cocaine during the height of his addiction in the 1990s.
• Slattery was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his later years.
• The star disappeared from public life for nearly a decade during the 2000s.
• The comedian made a documentary in 2019 titled "What's the Matter with Tony Slattery?" exploring mental health.
Awards & Recognition received by Tony Slattery
• Winner of Time Out Comedy Award (1987) for his one-man show.
• Recipient of the Perrier Comedy Award nomination at Edinburgh Fringe (1988).
• Awarded Honorary Fellowship from Queen Mary University for contributions to mental health awareness (2020).
• Won Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy Performance (1990) for "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Controversies around Tony Slattery
• The comedian famously walked off the set of "Have I Got News For You" in 1992 after a dispute with Angus Deayton.
• Slattery sparked media controversy by discussing his sexuality openly in the 1980s, rare for that era.
• The star's erratic behavior on Channel 4's "Loose Talk" led to the show's cancellation.
• The performer's public confrontation with a theater director made headlines in 1994.
Lesser-Known Facts about Tony Slattery
• The polymath speaks six languages fluently, including Medieval French.
• Slattery once wrote poetry under a pseudonym for literary magazines.
• The actor lived on a houseboat in London for several years during the 1980s.
• The performer has a collection of over 1,000 vintage magic tricks.
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