Tony Slattery laid bare his struggles with addiction and mental health before tragic death

Six years ago, when he began to make a comeback, late comedian Tony Slattery revealed his true self.

The 65-year-old recalls hitting rock bottom during a troubling mental health crisis while speaking openly about his drug and alcohol addictions at a talk in Belfast.

The British actor is best known for Whose Line Is It Anyway on Channel 4? According to his partner, the actor Mark Michael Hutchinson, who had previously died on Tuesday, he passed away in a heart attack. He was also the co-host of the comedy series Just A Minute and Have I Got News For You.

Slattery, who frequently talked openly about his bipolar disorder, declared bankruptcy in 2020 as a result of a battle with substance abuse and mental health issues. He claimed that his “misplaced trust in people” and “fiscal illiteracy and general innumeracy” had also contributed to his money issues.

What’s The Matter With Tony Slattery, a BBC Two Horizon documentary, was released by Slattery? in the same year, which included visits to renowned experts on addiction and mood disorders. He had previously made an appearance in the manic depressive episode of the BBC Two program in 2006.

He said: “I rented a huge warehouse by the River Thames. I simply sat there alone, didn’t check the mail, or pick up the phone for months or months. Just in a pool of mania and despair, I was.” He continued, explaining that he wasn’t financially able to cover the costs of the subsequent clean-up.

Slattery described how treating mental health issues like his own was “a post-code lottery” when speaking as a guest of the Belfast-based CinePunked organization, which meets to discuss movies and mental health. The late comic also revealed how his parents were Connemara-born but relocated to England in search of a better life at the event in Belfast. However, upon moving to the U. K, Slattery remembers how his late parents experiences anti-Irish prejudice.

Slattery discussed other sensitive incidents from his life with the audience throughout the talk, including being attacked by a nun for not knowing the Lord’s Prayer’s words, as well as his partner Mark and the abuse he suffered as a child. Slattery reaffirmed that his childhood had been a happy one at the time of the incident, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that a fundraiser to cover Slattery‘s funeral costs has exceeded its £8, 000 target. An official crowdfunder for the funeral, which has raised more than £10, 000 so far, said it would take “a huge weight off Mark’s shoulders at this miserable time”. And stated that he and Slattery were “looking forward to celebrating their 40th anniversary this year”

“Tony’s death was sudden and unexpected, and sadly he had not made any provisions for his funeral”, the fundraiser said. “Sadly, in later years mental health issues had diminished Tony’s career, but with the unwavering support of his long-term partner, Mark, he made it through the wilderness and was back touring and performing comedy.

When, to the great shock of all those who knew him, he had a fatal heart attack, life was beginning to turn rosy once more. … Because Tony was only just getting back to work, and because his passing was so unexpected, there wasn’t a Plan B in place. “

Born on November 9 1959, Slattery was the contemporary of Dame Emma Thompson, Sir Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie at the University of Cambridge. He was a former president of the improvisation group Cambridge Footlights, and had recently been touring a comedy show in England and launched a podcast, Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club, in October.

Outside of stand-up, Slattery appeared in 1980s and 1990s films including crime thriller The Crying Game, Peter’s Friends with Laurie, Sir Stephen and Dame Emma, and black comedy How To Get Ahead In Advertising with Richard E Grant.

He also appeared in numerous prominent roles in theater, including the 1995 Olivier Award nomination for Neville’s Island, a Tim Firth play that later became a Timothy Spall-starring movie, and the Iron Chef impersonator in the Second World War-set production Privates On Parade, a play based on the same name.

His West End debut was in the 1930s-style musical Radio Times, and on TV he also played a detective in Tiger Bastable, a gentleman comedy spoof, and the title character in sitcom, Just A Gigolo.

*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

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Source: Mirror