British actor and comedian Tony Slattery, best known for his work on improvisational comedy game show Whose Line is it Anyway? has died aged 65.
Slattery’s death was confirmed today by his partner of nearly four decades, actor Mark Michael Hutchinson.
“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,” Hutchinson told the BBC in a statement.
Slattery was a series regular on Whose Line? – which involved a panel of four performers taking part in improvisation games through pre-determined scenarios from the host or suggestions from audience members – from 1988 to 1995.
Sir Stephen Fry led tributes to Slattery online. The pair met at Cambridge University, during which Sir Stephen invited Slattery to join student sketch comedy group the Cambridge Footlights, whose members included actor Hugh Laurie.
In an Instagram post, Sir Stephen called Slattery “just about the gentlest, sweetest soul” who was “screamingly funny and deeply talented wit and clown”.
“A cruel irony that fate should snatch him from us just as he had really begun to emerge from his lifelong battle with so many dark demons. He had started live “evenings with” and his own podcast series,” he wrote.
“Lovely, at least, this past year for him to have found to his joyous surprise that he was still remembered and held in great affection.
“Love and condolences to Mark, his staunch, devoted life partner of almost 40 years.”
While Slattery was beloved for his work on Whose Line?, he also appeared in more dramatic roles, including 1992 thriller The Crying Game.
