Much-loved comedian Tony Slattery has died at the age of 65 after suffering a heart attack, his long-term partner Mark Michael Hutchinson has announced.
The star was known for his improvisational skills, notably appearing on the shows Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Just A Minute, and also worked as an actor in films such as The Crying Game and Peter's Friends.
Slattery was part of the infamous comedy troupe which emerged from Cambridge University in the 1980s, where his contemporaries included Sir Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Dame Emma Thompson and Sandi Toksvig.
The comedian's substance abuse problems led to him withdrawing from public life in the late '90s and he made only sporadic public appearances thereafter. In 2020 Slattery appeared in documentary What's the Matter with Tony Slattery? exploring his mental health issues, which professionals concluded was a result of trauma relating to childhood abuse and being on the bipolar spectrum.
Partner Hutchinson, who had been with Slattery since 1986, 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."
Erica Lear, the producer of his latest shows, said: "I will miss my mischievous partner in crime. They say you should never meet your heroes, but I met mine and he became my best friend".
Slattery is survived by Hutchinson and two siblings.
Neil Wilkes
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