Tony Slattery
- Actor
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
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.