Sir Stephen Fry leads tributes to "screamingly funny" Tony Slattery

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: January 15 2025 | 18:30

Last updated: January 15 2025 | 18:32

Sir Stephen Fry leads tributes to Tony Slattery following the comedian's death at the age of 65 after a heart attack.

Sir Stephen Fry has led tributes to good friend Tony Slattery following the comedian's death on Tuesday at the age of 65.

The improv comedy specialist died in hospital on Tuesday morning having suffered a heart attack on Sunday evening, his partner of almost four decades Mark Michael Hutchinson announced.

Slattery was part of the infamous comedy troupe that emerged from Cambridge University in the 1980s, a group that featured the likes of Fry, Hugh Laurie, Sandi Toksvig and Dame Emma Thompson.

"So very sad to have lost the wonderful Tony Slattery, just about the gentlest, sweetest soul I ever knew," Fry wrote on Instagram. "Not to mention a 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. 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."

Richard Vranch, who was also part of the troupe and worked alongside Slattery as a musician on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, said: "I first met Tony in 1981. We auditioned for the Cambridge Footlights as Iris Murdoch vs The Smog Monster and performed on the emerging London alternative comedy scene. Tony was hugely talented in many fields and a very good friend. We giggled like kids whenever we met up over the years. RIP."

The impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner wrote on X: "So sad to hear devastating news that Tony Slattery's died. Such genius, comic brilliance, Robin Williams class speed of thought, danger, energy. All of which came at a huge price. RIP"