Comedian and actor dies aged 65

British actor and comedian Tony Slattery has died aged 65, his family has confirmed.

Slattery was known and loved for his quick-witted improvisations on the popular Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, from 1988 onwards.

The Londoner also played comedic and serious roles in films such as The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends and 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.

A statement on behalf of his partner Mark Michael Hutchinson said: “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 into a working class family in North London in 1959, Slattery won a scholarship to study medieval and modern languages at Cambridge University.

It was from here that he entered the world of showbiz, meeting a young Sir Stephen Fry who invited him to join the Cambridge Footlights – the university’s famous amateur dramatics club.

From then on, Slattery once said: “Getting up on stage and hearing laughter took over.”

He was also the contemporary of Dame Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie.

In 1981, their group won the inaugural Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival, for their production of The Cellar Tapes.

And the following year, Slattery was named Footlights’ President, following in the footsteps of Eric Idle, Clive Anderson and Peter Cook.

Slattery appeared on the London club circuit doing “kind of a variety act with bizarre turns” as he put it.

He made several TV appearances, including a stint hosting children’s programme TX.

But his big break came in 1986, when he landed a starring role in the West End musical Me and My Girl; before going on to appear in Radio Times, Privates on Parade and Neville’s Island – to critical acclaim.

His other on screen credits include To Die For, Up ‘N Under and The Wedding Tackle.

But he will be most fondly remembered for his work on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Channel 4’s flagship comedy show which saw performers conduct a series of short improvisation games, creating comedic scenes from suggestions by the host or the audience.

Slattery tickled the nation, appearing alongside the likes of fellow Comedy Store Players members Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence and Sandi Toksvig, as well as Rory Bremner and his old friend Fry, in 48 episodes from 1988 to 1995.

The departure of Slattery, one of the show’s most popular performers, after series seven affected the show’s ratings.

The comic actor took a break from performing for personal reasons, before returning to film and TV – with a number of projects for the BBC.

He had recently been touring a comedy show in England and launched a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club, in October.

Like many much-loved entertainers, Slattery had his demons. In 1996, aged 36, he had a physical and mental breakdown.

In an interview with the Guardian in 2019, he said: “I had a very happy time until I went slightly barmy”.

Slattery is survived by Hutchinson, his partner of more than three decades.