Christian Slater

Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor.

He made his film debut with a leading role in The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakthrough role as Jason "J.D." Dean, a sociopathic high school student, in the satire Heathers (1988). He has received critical acclaim for his title role in the USA Network television series Mr. Robot (2015–2019), for which he earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2016, with additional nominations in 2017 and 2018.

Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Slater in 2016
Born
Christian Michael Leonard Slater

(1969-08-18) August 18, 1969 (age 54)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1977–present
Spouses
  • (m. 2000; div. 2007)
  • Brittany Lopez
    (m. 2013)
Children3
Parents

In the 1990s, Slater starred in a number of big-budget films, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Broken Arrow (1996), and Hard Rain (1998) as well as cult films like Gleaming the Cube (1989), Pump Up the Volume (1990) and True Romance (1993). His other notable films include roles in The Name of the Rose (1986), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), Windtalkers (2002), Alone in the Dark (2005), Bobby (2006), He Was a Quiet Man (2007), Nymphomaniac (2013), The Wife (2017), and We Can Be Heroes (2020).

In addition to his live-action roles, Slater has had an extensive voice-acting career, with roles like Pips in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Slater in Archer (2014–2023), Ushari in The Lion Guard (2016–2019), Rand Ridley in Inside Job (2021–2022), and Floyd Lawton / Deadshot in the DC Animated Movie Universe.

Early life

Slater was born on August 18, 1969, in New York City, the son of Michael Hawkins (born Thomas Knight Slater), an actor also known as Michael Gainsborough; and Mary Jo Slater (née Lawton), an acting agent turned casting executive and producer. He has a maternal half-brother, Ryan Slater, who also became an actor. His great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater. He attended the Dalton School, the Professional Children's School and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Career

1977–1990: Early success

Slater started acting from an early age. His first television role was at the age of eight on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. Following a run on Ryan's Hope, he made his Broadway debut as the lisping Winthrop Paroo opposite Dick Van Dyke in the 1980 revival of The Music Man. Additional Broadway credits include Copperfield, Merlin, Macbeth, Side Man, and The Glass Menagerie. In addition he has performed in London's West End in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Swimming with Sharks.

Slater made his big screen debut in 1985's The Legend of Billie Jean, playing Billie Jean's brother Binx. Though expected to be a big hit, the film fell short at the box office. It has gained a cult following. His career improved with his role in The Name of the Rose (1986) alongside Sean Connery. Slater played Connery's apprentice monk while they investigated a series of murders at a Benedictine abbey. Slater followed this by playing Junior Tucker in Francis Ford Coppola's Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).

At the age of 18, Slater played the dark character J.D. in the 1988 film Heathers alongside Winona Ryder. Slater beat out many other actors such as Brad Pitt for the part, and his performance drew comparison with a young Jack Nicholson. Slater also starred in Gleaming the Cube and appeared in Beyond the Stars (both 1989). After Heathers, Slater had offers to play more troubled youths, including as a rebellious teen in Pump Up the Volume (1990) and a wild gunman in Young Guns II (1990), in which Slater acted alongside Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips and Kiefer Sutherland.

1991–1999: Box office success

In 1991, Slater was cast as Will Scarlett in the Hollywood big budget production of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves alongside Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman. The film was a commercial success, taking US$390 million worldwide, and Slater became one of the major A-list stars of the 1990s. With Slater being a big Star Trek fan (in addition to his mother, Mary Jo Slater, serving as the casting director for the film), he accepted a cameo role in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, shortly after playing Charlie Luciano in the crime drama Mobsters. The following year he expanded his film genre and starred in the comedy Kuffs opposite Milla Jovovich. In 1993, Slater again stretched his acting skills, playing opposite Marisa Tomei in Untamed Heart and playing Clarence Worley in True Romance, written by Quentin Tarantino, which received many rave reviews. In his review of True Romance, Roger Ebert awarded the movie 3 stars out of 4 and said, "the energy and style of the movie are exhilarating. Christian Slater has the kind of cocky recklessness the movie needs."

He gained the role of the interviewer Daniel Molloy in Interview with the Vampire (1994) after the death of his friend River Phoenix, who was originally cast. Slater subsequently donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities. He played the character of Lewis in the romance film Bed of Roses in 1996 opposite Mary Stuart Masterson then that of Riley Hale in the big-budget John Woo film Broken Arrow (1996), which also starred John Travolta. In 1998 Slater appeared in crime movie Hard Rain alongside Morgan Freeman. The same year he also starred in the dark comedy Very Bad Things opposite Cameron Diaz.

2000–present: Television roles, Mr. Robot

Christian Slater 
Slater in 2004

Since 2000 Slater has mixed TV work with leading roles in mainly lower budget films, along with supporting roles in a few mainstream productions. He appeared in the successful The West Wing and Alias TV series. He was also part of Hollywood films, including Bobby and 3000 Miles to Graceland. He has also worked as a voice-over artist in productions, including the character of 'Pips' in the successful Australian animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and TV documentaries, including Prehistoric Planet and Dinosaur Planet. Slater also voiced the character John Watson a.k.a. "Wonko the Sane" in BBC Radio 4's production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Slater starred in the television series My Own Worst Enemy in 2008 and The Forgotten in 2009. In 2011 he co-starred in the action film The River Murders, with Ray Liotta and Ving Rhames. Also in 2011, he starred in the television series, Breaking In, which ran for two seasons. Slater co-starred with Ving Rhames in the film Soldiers of Fortune (2012), and in the Sylvester Stallone action thriller Bullet to the Head (2013), directed by Walter Hill. He co-starred in the 2014 television series, Mind Games, which was cancelled after five episodes were aired. He was part of the ensemble in Lars von Trier's controversial film, Nymphomaniac.

In October 2014, Slater signed on for his title role in the television series on USA Network Mr. Robot. Slater plays a computer hacker, "Mr. Robot," who recruits Rami Malek's character, Elliot, into Slater's band of hackers called fsociety. The series premiered on June 24, 2015, and concluded in 2019 with its fourth season. For his performance, he earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2016, with additional nominations in 2017 and 2018.

Prior to beginning his role in Mr. Robot, Slater announced in 2013 that he was developing and making a film based on Will Viharo's 1993 neo-noir novel Love Stories Are Too Violent for Me, the first of three works to feature Vic Valentine. However, the success of Mr. Robot and contracts for additional seasons has delayed his being able to develop his adaptation.

Slater voices the character "Slater" on the FX original series Archer. He also provided the voice of Ushari the Egyptian Cobra in The Lion Guard. He also made a short film for HP called The Wolf, which shows how easily malware can spread on unprotected printers and computers. In 2018, Christian Slater appeared in The Public, the latest film by Emilio Estevez. At the world premiere of the film at the Toronto Film Festival, Slater discussed his role, Josh Davis, with Ikon London Magazine:

"He (Josh Davis) is definitely the character in the movie who represents that side of politics where he is not as open-hearted as you'd like him to be. He is definitely the guy who feels this is all a mess. And he is a law and order politician in this movie. So hopefully, he is the kind of guy you love to hate".

From 2021 to 2022, he voiced the character Rand Ridley on the adult sci-fi animated sitcom Inside Job. The shows creator announced the cancellation of the show in January 2023.

Personal life

In 2000, Slater married Ryan Haddon, the daughter of model Dayle Haddon. They have two children, a son born in 1999, and a daughter born in 2001. In 2003, Haddon was arrested for assaulting Slater during an argument at a Hard Rock Cafe while on vacation in Las Vegas. Haddon allegedly threw a glass bottle and cut Slater's neck, which required 20 stitches. Haddon was charged with domestic battery, booked at Las Vegas' Clark County Detention Center, and freed after posting bond. They announced their separation over Christmas in 2004. Slater was living in London at the time, performing in a stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The couple officially separated in 2005 and divorced in 2007.

On December 2, 2013, Slater married his girlfriend Brittany Lopez in Florida after three years of dating. They have one daughter together, born in August 2019.

Slater practices Kempo Karate and divides his time between Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida and Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.

Slater has had difficulties with substance abuse and has undergone treatment. In 1989, Slater was arrested for drunk driving. He was sentenced to ten days in jail. At one time he said, "Work is my hobby, staying sober is my job." After living in recovery, he said in 2009, "Work is my job, and having adventures with my kids. My kids are all-important".

The illusion of being very cool, that drinking is the hip thing to do and that you'll seem like Clark Gable. You go to a party and have a drink and feel like a superhero when the truth is you're looking rather foolish. Showing up for life 24/7 straight and sober can be tough if you're riddled with insecurities. Actually, the fastest way of knowing who you are is to know who you're not.

In 1994, he was arrested when he tried to board a commercial plane with a gun in his baggage. He was sentenced to three days of community service.

In 1997, Slater was convicted of punching his girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and assaulting a police officer while under the influence of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. He had consumed them for two days straight and had little to no sleep. He was treated for more than 100 days in a rehabilitation facility while on bail, and then was sentenced to a three-month term in jail, followed by three months in a residential rehab center. He was released from prison after 59 days on the basis of good behavior.

On May 24, 2005, Slater was arrested in Manhattan, after allegedly groping a woman on the street. Slater was charged with third-degree sexual abuse. The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence and on the condition that Slater keep out of trouble for six months.

Philanthropy

Slater has been a supporter of several charities, including 21st Century Leaders, Global Green, and Whatever It Takes. Slater appeared in an educational video on behalf of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity for AIDS awareness. He has also worked to promote humanitarian work in South Africa. In early May 2009, Slater visited wounded and recovering soldiers of Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the USO. On December 10, 2009, Slater visited Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he contributed work for the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The episode aired on March 21, 2010.

Filmography

Christian Slater 
Slater speaking at the Mr. Robot panel during the 2015 PaleyFest

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Legend of Billie Jean Binx Davy
1986 Twisted Mark Collins
The Name of the Rose Adso of Melk
1988 Tucker: The Man and His Dream Preston Tucker Jr.
Heathers Jason "J.D." Dean
1989 Desperate for Love Cliff Petrie
Beyond the Stars Eric Michaels
The Wizard Nick Woods
Gleaming the Cube Brian Kelly
1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Andy Smith Segment: "Lot 249"
Pump Up the Volume Mark Hunter
Young Guns II "Arkansas" Dave Rudabaugh
1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Will Scarlet
Mobsters Charlie "Lucky" Luciano
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Excelsior Communications Officer Cameo
1992 Kuffs George Kuffs
Where the Day Takes You Social Worker Uncredited
FernGully: The Last Rainforest Pips Voice
1993 Untamed Heart Adam
True Romance Clarence Worley
1994 Interview with the Vampire Daniel Molloy
Jimmy Hollywood William
1995 Murder in the First James Stamphill
1996 Bed of Roses Lewis Farrell
Broken Arrow Captain Riley Hale
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Easily Fooled Security Guard Uncredited
Julian Po Julian Po
Basil John Mannion Also co-producer
1998 Hard Rain Tom Also co-producer
Very Bad Things Robert Boyd Also executive producer
2000 The Contender Reginald Webster
2001 Who Is Cletis Tout? Trevor Allen Finch
3000 Miles to Graceland Hanson
Zoolander Himself Cameo
2002 Hard Cash Thomas Taylor
Windtalkers Sgt. Pete "Ox" Henderson
2003 Masked and Anonymous Crew Guy #1
2004 Churchill: The Hollywood Years Winston Churchill
Mindhunters J.D. Reston
The Confessor Father Daniel Clemens
Pursued Vincent Palmer Direct-to-DVD
2005 Alone in the Dark Edward Carnby
The Deal Tom Hanson Also executive producer
2006 Crossing the Line Himself Documentary
Bobby Daryl Timmons
Hollow Man 2 Michael Griffin Direct-to-DVD
2007 He Was a Quiet Man Bob Maconel
Slipstream Ray / Matt Dodds / Patrolman #2
The Ten Commandments Moses Voice; Direct-to-DVD
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Pollen Direct-to-DVD
Igor Doctor Schadenfreude's Igor Voice
2009 Dolan's Cadillac Jimmy Dolan Direct-to-DVD
Lies & Illusions Wes Wilson Direct-to-DVD
2010 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Jammer Voice
2011 Sacrifice Father Porter Direct-to-DVD
The River Murders Agent Vuckovitch
Guns, Girls and Gambling John Smith/Lee
Without Men Gordon Smith
2012 Playback Frank Lyons
Soldiers of Fortune Craig Mackenzie
El Gringo Lieutenant West Direct-to-DVD
Freaky Deaky Skip Gibbs
Dawn Rider "Cincinnati" John Mason Direct-to-DVD
Rites of Passage Delgado Direct-to-DVD
Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood Governor Bramlette Direct-to-DVD
Back to the Sea Jack Voice
Assassin's Bullet Robert Diggs Direct-to-DVD
2013 Bullet to the Head Marcus Baptiste
The Power of Few Clyde
Stranded Col. Gerard Brauchman Direct-to-DVD
Assassins Run Michael Mason Direct-to-DVD
Nymphomaniac Joe's father
2014 Ask Me Anything Paul Spooner
Way of the Wicked Henry Direct-to-DVD
2015 Hot Tub Time Machine 2 Brett McShaussey Uncredited
The Adderall Diaries Hans Reiser
2016 King Cobra Stephen Kocis
2017 The Summit Dereck McKinley
Mune: Guardian of the Moon Leeyoon Voice; English dub
The Wife Nathanial Bone
2018 The Public Josh Davis
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay Floyd Lawton / Deadshot Voice; direct-to-DVD
2020 We Can Be Heroes Tech-No
2023 Chupa Richard Quinn
Freelance Sebastian Earle
2024 Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story Mike Diamond Post-production
Blink Twice TBA Post-production
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Standing Room Only Billy Episode: "Sherlock Holmes"
1982 Pardon Me for Living Virgil Meade Television film
1983 ABC Weekend Special Billy Episode: "The Haunted Mansion Mystery"
1983 Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story Walt Willey Television film
1984 Tales from the Darkside Jody Tolliver Episode: "A Case of the Stubborns"
1984, 1986 All My Children Scotty, Caleb Thompson
1985 Ryan's Hope D. J. LaSalle 6 episodes
1986 Crime Story Teen Boy Episode: "Old Friends, Dead Ends"
The Equalizer Michael Winslow Episode: "Joy Ride"
1988 L.A. Law Andy Prescott Episode: "Fetus Completus"
1991, 1993 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) 2 episodes
1992 Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories Himself (narrator) Episode: There's a Nightmare in My Closet/There's an Alligator Under My Bed/There's Something in My Attic
1993 1993 MTV Video Music Awards Himself (host) Television special
2002 Alias Neil Caplan 2 episodes
The West Wing Lt. Cmdr. Jack Reese 3 episodes
2002–2003 Prehistoric Planet Narrator Season 2
2003 Dinosaur Planet Narrator 4 episodes
2003–2005 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius Jet Fusion (voice) 2 episodes
2004 Top Gear Himself 1 episode
2005–2012 Robot Chicken Various voices 6 episodes
2006 My Name Is Earl Woody Episode: "Robbed a Stoner Blind"
2008 My Own Worst Enemy Edward Albright / Henry Spivey 9 episodes
2009 The Forgotten Alex Donovan 17 episodes
Curb Your Enthusiasm Christian Slater Episode: "The Hot Towel"
2010 The Office Christian Slater Episode: "Sabre"
2011–2012 Breaking In Oz 20 episodes; also producer
2011 Entourage Christian Slater Episode: "Out with a Bang"
2012 Phineas and Ferb Paul the Delivery Guy (voice) Episode: "Delivery of Destiny"
2013 Out There Johnny Slade (voice) Episode: "Springoween"
2014 Mind Games Ross Edwards 10 episodes
Stan Lee's Mighty 7: Beginnings Lazer Lord (voice) TV film
2014–2016,
2022-2023
Archer Slater (voice) 13 episodes
2015 Two and a Half Men Christian Slater Episode: "Of Course He's Dead"
2015–2019 Mr. Robot Mr. Robot 45 episodes; also producer
2015 Jake and the Never Land Pirates The Grim Buccaneer (voice) 2 episodes
2016–2019 The Lion Guard Ushari (voice) 13 episodes
Milo Murphy's Law Elliot Decker (voice) 14 episodes
2016–2017 Dawn of the Croods Gurg (voice) 3 Episodes "
2016–2017 Live with Kelly Himself (guest host) 13 episodes
2017 Jeff & Some Aliens Zergrees 2 episodes
Justice League Action Deadshot (voice) 3 episodes
Rick and Morty Vance Maximus (voice) Episode: "Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender"
2018 Explained Narrator (voice) Episode: "Cryptocurrency"
2020 Dirty John Dan Broderick 8 episodes
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Christian Slater (voice) Episode: "The High School Wolfman's Musical Lament!"
2021 Dr. Death Dr. Randall Kirby 8 episodes
Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales Kylo Ren (voice) Television short
2021–2022 Inside Job Rand Ridley (voice) 18 episodes
2022 The Boys Presents: Diabolical The Narrator: Paul (voice) Episode: "An Animated Short Where Pissed-Off Supes Kill Their Parents"
Willow Allagash Episode: "Prisoners of Skellin"
Fleishman Is in Trouble Archer Sylvan 3 episodes
2024 The Spiderwick Chronicles Mulgarath Post-production
TBA Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas Torrance (voice) Post-production
Key
Denotes series that have not yet been released

Stage

Year Title Role Venue
1978 Mister Scrooge Tiny Tim Cratchit Trinity Theatre
1980 The Music Man Winthrop Paroo New York City Center
1981 Copperfield Billy Mowcher August Wilson Theatre
1982 Macbeth Macduff's Son Circle in the Square Theatre
1983 Merlin Young Merlin / Arthur Mark Hellinger Theatre
1984 Landscape of the Body Bert Yearn Second Stage Theatre
1999 Side Man Clifford Glimmer John Golden Theatre
2004–2005 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Randle Patrick "Mac" McMurphy Gielgud Theatre
2005 The Glass Menagerie Tom Wingfield Ethel Barrymore Theatre
2006 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Randle Patrick "Mac" McMurphy Garrick Theatre
2007–2008 Swimming with Sharks Buddy Ackerman Vaudeville Theatre
2015 Spamalot Sir Galahad The Hollywood Bowl
2017–2018 Glengarry Glen Ross Richard Roma Playhouse Theatre

Awards and nominations

Christian Slater 
Slater at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival in 2014
Year Award Category Title Result
1990 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Most Promising Actor Heathers Nominated
1991 Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead Pump Up the Volume Nominated
1992 Golden Raspberry Award Worst Supporting Actor Mobsters Nominated
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Nominated
MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Male Kuffs Nominated
1993 Untamed Heart Won
Best Kiss (with Marisa Tomei) Won
1994 Best Kiss (with Patricia Arquette) True Romance Nominated
Saturn Award Best Actor Nominated
1995 MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Male Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Nominated
1996 Best Fight (with John Travolta) Broken Arrow Nominated
2000 Slate Award Best Male Performance Very Bad Things Won
2001 Critics' Choice Award Alan J. Pakula Award The Contender Won
2006 Hollywood Film Award Ensemble of the Year Bobby Won
2007 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
Critics' Choice Award Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
2016 People's Choice Award Favorite Cable TV Actor Mr. Robot Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Won
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Won
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2017 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2018 Nominated
2022 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Dr. Death Nominated

References

Tags:

Christian Slater Early lifeChristian Slater CareerChristian Slater Personal lifeChristian Slater PhilanthropyChristian Slater FilmographyChristian Slater Awards and nominationsChristian Slater

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