Actor and comedian Tony Slattery dies aged 65

British comedian and actor Tony Slattery has died aged 65 following a heart attack, his partner has revealed.

Slattery was known for his quick-witted improvisations on the game show Whose Line Is It Anyway? in the 80s.

He was also known for his acting work, appearing in the films The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends and Bruce Robinson’s How to Get Ahead in Advertising.

He earned an Olivier Award nomination for best comedy performance for his role as Gordon in Tim Firth's play Neville's Island.

His partner of three decades, Mark Michael Hutchinson, announced the news, saying:: “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.”

Born to Irish parents in London on 9 November 1959, Slattery first stepped into the comedy scene after becoming president of Cambridge’s comedy society, Footlights, in 1982, alongside Emma Thompson, Jan Ravens, Richard Vranch and his future co-star Sandi Toksvig.

In 1988, he became a regular fixture on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, leaving the show in 1995 due to health issues. He returned for a reunion special in March 2011.

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.

Slattery is survived by his partner Hutchinson, whom he met while performing in Me and My Girl in the mid 1980s.