‘Whose line is it anyway’? The star was 65

Tony Slattery, the comedian and actor best known for his improvisations on a hit comedy show Whose line is it anyway?died today after a heart attack two days ago. He was 65.

Slattery’s family confirmed his death to the BBC. A statement on behalf of his partner Mark Michael Hutchinson said: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce that actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away this Tuesday morning following a heart attack on Sunday evening.”

Slattery was perhaps best known as a regular on Whose line is it anyway?, Channel 4 improv on which he appeared for the first seven seasons. Hosted by Clive Anderson, the show ran for more than 100 episodes and was rerun in the US on ABC then The CW.

Slattery also appeared in films such as The Crying Game, Peter’s friends and How to get ahead in advertising.

Born in 1959, he attended Cambridge University and joined the Footlights comedy group, alongside contemporaries such as Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson who eventually became president.

He broke into television as a regular OTT, Saturday Stayback and went on to appear on a number of panel shows before landing whose line is it concert in the late 1980s. As a dramatic actor, he appeared in The crying game, To die for, Peter’s friends and The wedding stuff.

He also earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy Performance for his role as Gordon in Tim Firth’s Neville’s Island. He had recently toured a comedy show and hosted a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Walking Club.

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