Christian Slater

Christian Slater

Slater at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2014
Born Christian Michael Leonard Slater
(1969-08-18) August 18, 1969
New York City, New York, United States
Occupation Actor, Producer
Years active 1981–present
Spouse(s) Ryan Haddon (m. 2000–07)
Brittany Lopez (m. 2013)
Children 2 (with Haddon)

Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor and producer.[1] He made his film debut with a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean. He played a monk's apprentice alongside Sean Connery in The Name of the Rose (1986) and gained wider recognition for his breakthrough role in the 1988 cult film Heathers. He currently has a leading role in the USA Network TV series, Mr. Robot, for which he won his first Golden Globe at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

In the 1990s, Slater starred in many big budget films, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Broken Arrow, and Hard Rain. He was also featured in the cult film True Romance. Since 2000, Slater has combined work in the film business with television, including appearances in The West Wing and Alias and starring in Breaking In and Mind Games.

Slater was married to Ryan Haddon between 2000 and 2007, and they have two children together. Slater has had widely publicized brushes with the law, including being sentenced to three months in jail for assault in 1997.

Early life

Slater was born in New York City, to Michael Hawkins (né Thomas Knight Slater), an actor also known as Michael Gainsborough, and Mary Jo Slater (née Lawton), an acting agent turned casting executive and producer.[2][3] Slater has a maternal half-brother, Ryan Slater, who is also an actor.[4] His great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater.[5] Despite playing her character's younger brother in the movie The Legend of Billie Jean, he is not related to Helen Slater. He attended the Dalton School, the Professional Children's School and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.[4]

Career

Early career

Slater's first television role was on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live when he was 8 years old.[6] 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.[2] 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, despite gaining a cult following. His career improved with his role in The Name of the Rose (1986) alongside Sean Connery.[7] 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), Gleaming the Cube (1989) and Beyond the Stars (1989).

Slater's career rose to new heights when he played the dark character J.D. in the 1989 film Heathers alongside Winona Ryder. Heathers was billed as the teen film of the late 1980s. Slater beat out many other actors such as Brad Pitt for the part and his performance drew comparison with a young Jack Nicholson.[7] 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 and Kiefer Sutherland.

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.[8] With Slater being a big Star Trek fan, he accepted a minor role in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, shortly after playing Charlie Luciano in the crime drama Mobsters.[7] The following year he starred in Kuffs.

In 1993, Slater tried to expand his film genre, playing opposite Marisa Tomei in Untamed Heart and playing Clarence Worley in the Quentin Tarantino-penned cult classic True Romance, which received many rave reviews.[7] In his review of True Romance Roger Ebert awarded the movie 3 stars out of 4 and commented, 'the energy and style of the movie are exhilarating. Christian Slater has the kind of cocky recklessness the movie needs.'[9]

The part as the interviewer in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) came about after his friend River Phoenix, who originally had the role, died.[7] Slater subsequently donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities.[7] Slater also played the character of Lewis in the romance film Bed of Roses in 1996 along with Mary Stuart Masterson. Slater played Riley Hale in the big budget John Woo film Broken Arrow (1996), which also starred John Travolta, before appearing in 1998 in Hard Rain alongside Morgan Freeman. The same year he also starred in the comedy Very Bad Things opposite Cameron Diaz.

Since 2000

Since 2000 Slater has mixed TV work with leading roles in mainly lower budget films along with supporting roles in a few mainstream productions, appearing in the successful The West Wing and Alias TV productions, but also being part of Hollywood films, including Bobby and 3000 Miles to Graceland.[7] He has also worked as a voice-over artist in productions, including the character of 'Pip' 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.[10] 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 lasted for two seasons. Slater co-starred in another film with Ving Rhames, 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 only five episodes were aired,[11] and was part of the ensemble in Lars von Trier's controversial Nymphomaniac.[12]

Slater is reportedly developing and making a film based on Will Viharo's 1993 neo-noir novel Love Stories Are Too Violent for Me,[13] the first of three works to feature PI Vic Valentine.

Recently, he has received acclaim for his role in the television series on USA Network called 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. It was picked up for a second season.[14]

Slater voices the character "Slater" on the FX original series Archer.

Personal life

In 2000, Slater married Ryan Haddon, the daughter of 1970s model Dayle Haddon. The couple have two children, Jaden Christopher (born 1999) and Eliana Sophia (born 2001).[7] In 2003, Haddon was arrested for assaulting Slater at a Hard Rock Cafe while on a trip to Las Vegas.[15] Haddon allegedly threw a glass bottle and gashed Slater’s neck open.[16] Haddon was charged with domestic battery, booked at Las Vegas’ Clark County Detention Center, and freed after posting a bond. Afterwards, Slater had to get 20 stitches on his neck.[16][17] They announced a separation over Christmas 2004 while Slater was performing in a stage version of the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in London's West End. They officially separated in 2005 and divorced in 2007.[18]

Slater was once quoted as saying "Work is my hobby, staying sober is my job."[19] Christian Slater is a practitioner in Kempo Karate.[20]

On December 2, 2013, Slater married 26-year-old Brittany Lopez, whom he had dated for three years.[21][22]

Arrests and convictions

In 1989, Slater was arrested for drunk driving and assault. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail.[7][23]

In 1994, he was arrested when he tried to board a commercial plane with a gun in his luggage.[23] He was sentenced to community service.[24]

In 1997, Slater was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and a police officer while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.[7][23] He spent over 100 days in a rehabilitation facility while out on bail and then was sentenced to a three-month term in jail followed by three months in a residential rehab center.[4]

On May 24, 2005, Slater was arrested in Manhattan, New York, after he allegedly sexually harassed a woman on the street.[25] A video of Slater being arrested was recorded and shown on television. Slater was charged with third degree sexual abuse and was held at the 19th precinct in Manhattan.[25][26] The charges were later dropped on the condition that Slater keep out of trouble for six months.[27]

Charity work

Slater has been a supporter of several charities, including 21st Century Leaders, Global Green and Whatever It Takes.[28] Slater appeared in an educational video on behalf of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity for AIDS awareness.[29]

He has also worked to promote humanitarian work in South Africa.[30]

In 1994, Slater donated his earnings from the film Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles to River Phoenix’s favorite charities.[2] Slater had taken a role in the film planned to be filled by Phoenix after the latter died in 1993. In early May 2009, Slater visited wounded and recovering soldiers of Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the USO.[2] 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.[31]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Legend of Billie Jean, TheThe Legend of Billie Jean Binx
1986 Twisted Mark Collins
1986 Name of the Rose, TheThe Name of the Rose Adso of Melk
1988 Tucker: The Man and His Dream Preston Tucker, Jr.
1989 Beyond the Stars Eric Michaels
1989 Wizard, TheThe Wizard Nick Woods
1989 Heathers Jason "J.D." Dean
1989 Gleaming the Cube Brian Kelly
1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Andy Segment: "Lot 249"
1990 Pump Up The Volume Mark Hunter
1990 Young Guns II "Arkansas" Dave Rudabaugh
1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Will Scarlet
1991 Mobsters Charlie "Lucky" Luciano
1991 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Excelsior Communications Officer
1992 Kuffs George Kuffs
1992 FernGully: The Last Rainforest Pips Voice
1993 Untamed Heart Adam
1993 True Romance Clarence Worley
1994 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Daniel Molloy
1994 Jimmy Hollywood William
1995 Murder in the First James Stamphill
1996 Bed of Roses Lewis Farrell
1996 Broken Arrow Captain Riley Hale
1997 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery Easily Fooled Security Guard Deleted scene
1997 Julian Po Julian Po
1997 Basil John Mannion Also co-producer
1998 Hard Rain Tom Also co-producer
1998 Very Bad Things Robert Boyd Also executive producer
1999 Love Stinks Eddie Uncredited
2000 Contender, TheThe Contender Reginald Webster
2001 Who Is Cletis Tout? Trevor Allen Finch
2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Hanson
2002 Hard Cash Thomas Taylor
2002 Windtalkers Sgt. Pete "Ox" Henderson
2003 Masked and Anonymous Crew Guy #1
2004 Churchill: The Hollywood Years Winston Churchill
2004 Confessor, TheThe Confessor Daniel Clemens Direct-to-DVD
2005 Alone in the Dark Edward Carnby
2005 Mindhunters J.D. Reston
2005 Deal, TheThe Deal Tom Hanson Direct-to-DVD; also executive producer
2006 Crossing the Line Himself Documentary
2006 Bobby Daryl Timmons
2006 Hollow Man 2 Michael Griffin/Hollow Man Direct-to-DVD
2007 He Was a Quiet Man Bob Maconel
2007 Slipstream Ray / Matt Dodds / Patrolman #2
2007 Ten Commandments, TheThe Ten Commandments Moses Voice
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Pollen Direct-to-DVD
2008 Igor Doctor Schadenfreude's Igor Voice
2009 Dolan's Cadillac Jimmy Dolan
2009 Lies & Illusions Wes Wilson
2011 Sacrifice Father Porter
2011 The River Murders Agent Vuckovitch
2011 Guns, Girls and Gambling John Smith
2011 Without Men Gordon
2012 Playback Frank Lyons Direct-to-DVD
2012 Soldiers of Fortune Craig Mackenzie
2012 El Gringo Lieutenant West
2012 Freaky Deaky Skip Gibbs Direct-to-DVD
2012 Dawn Rider "Cincinnati" John Mason
2012 Rites of Passage Delgado
2012 Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood Governor Bramlette
2012 Back to the Sea Jack Voice
2012 Assassin's Bullet Robert Diggs
2012 Bullet to the Head Marcus Baptiste
2013 The Power of Few Clyde
2013 Stranded Col. Gerard Brauchman
2013 Assassins Run Mikhail Gutseriev Direct-to-DVD
2013 Nymphomaniac Joe’s father
2014 Ask Me Anything Paul Spooner
2014 Way of the Wicked Henry Direct-to-DVD
2015 Hot Tub Time Machine 2 Choozy Doozy Host Uncredited
2015 The Adderall Diaries Hans Reiser
2016 King Cobra Stephen

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 One Life to Live Boy in doctor's office 1 episode
1981 Standing Room Only Billy Episode: "Sherlock Holmes"
1984 Tales From The Darkside Jody Tolliver Episode: "A Case of the Stubborns"
1985 Ryan's Hope D. J. LaSalle 6 episodes
1986 Crime Story Teen Boy Episode: "Old Friends, Dead Ends"
1986 Equalizer, TheThe Equalizer Michael Winslow Episode: "Joy Ride"
1988 L.A. Law Andy Prescott Episode: "Fetus Completus"
1991–1993 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) 2 episodes
1993 1993 MTV Video Music Awards Himself (host)
2002 Alias Neil Caplan 2 episodes
2002 The West Wing Lt. Cmdr. Jack Reese 3 episodes
2003 Dinosaur Planet Narrator 4 episodes
2003–2005 Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, TheThe Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Jet Fusion (voice) 2 episodes
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 Forgotten, TheThe Forgotten Alex Donovan 17 episodes
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Himself Episode: "The Hot Towel"
2010 The Office Himself Episode: "Sabre"
2011–2012 Breaking In Oz 20 episodes
2011 Entourage Himself Episode: "Out with a Bang"
2012 Phineas and Ferb Paul (voice) Episode: "Delivery of Destiny"
2013 Out There Johnny Slade (voice) Episode: "Springoween"
2014 Mind Games Clark Edwards 10 episodes
2014 Stan Lee's Mighty 7 Lazer Lord (voice) Pilot
2014–2016 Archer Slater (voice) 10 episodes
2015 Two and a Half Men Himself Episode: "Of Course He's Dead: Part 2"
2015–present Mr. Robot Mr. Robot 21 episodes, also producer
2015 Jake and the Never Land Pirates The Grim Buccaneer (voice) Episode: "Mystery of the Mighty Colossus"
2016–present The Lion Guard Ushari (voice) 5 episodes
2016–present Milo Murphy's Law Elliot Decker (voice)

Awards and nominations

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 MTV Movie Award Most Desirable Male Kuffs Nominated
1993 Untamed Heart[32] 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
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 Won

References

  1. ↑ "Full Cast And Crew of Mr. Robot". imdb.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Christian Slater". Inside the Actors Studio. Season 15. Episode 16. October 13, 2008. Bravo.
  3. ↑ "Christian Slater profile". FilmReference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Christian Slater profile". Yahoo.com. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ John Lewis (2011-11-22). "Radio Master: The Life and Times of Sports Broadcasting Great Ted Husing". Books.google.ca. p. 369. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  6. ↑ Grady, Constance. "Watch: Christian Slater as an 8-year-old soap star". Vox. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Christian Slater profile". The Biography Channel. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  9. ↑ Roger Ebert (10 September 1993). "True Romance". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "Slater joining Hitchhiker's play". BBC. April 19, 2005. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 27, 2014). "'Mind Games' Cancelled: ABC Replaces Series With Repeats". Deadline.com. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Hillary. "'Nymphomaniac' N.Y. Premiere: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christian Slater Support Controversial Director Lars von Trier". Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  13. ↑ Tony DuShane (October 23, 2013). "Christian Slater rescues Will Viharo's pulpy novel", sfgate.com; accessed August 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (24 June 2015). "'Mr. Robot' Gets Second-Season Pickup By USA Ahead Of Series Premiere". Deadline.com. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  15. ↑ Associated Press. "Slater, wife: An altercation?". Los Angeles Times.
  16. 1 2 Gary Susman (November 11, 2003). "Very Bad Things". Entertainment Weekly.
  17. ↑ Associated Press. "Slater, wife: An altercation?". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ↑ "Christian Slater splits from wife Ryan Haddon". Female First. November 30, 2001. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Christian Slater Top Ten Jailbirds". Bravo. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  20. ↑ "25 Things You Don't Know About Me: Christian Slater". US. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  21. ↑ "Christian Slater Marries Brittany Lopez—See Their Wedding Pics!". Eonline.com. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  22. ↑ Cosgrove, Sheila (2013-01-14). "Christian Slater Marries Brittany Lopez - Marriage, Wedding, Christian Slater". People.com. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  23. 1 2 3 Rogerson, Margaret (December 11, 1997). "Christian Slater jailed for drug assault". London, UK: The Independent. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Christian Slater Biography". Yahoo Movies. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  25. 1 2 Cheryl Bronson. "Christian Slater arrested on sexual harassment charge". CNN. Retrieved May 31, 2005.
  26. ↑ "Christian Slater Arrested". CBS News.
  27. ↑ Andrew Jacobs (September 20, 2005). "Charges Against Actor Dropped". New York Times.
  28. ↑ "Christian Slater's Charity Work, Events and Causes". LookToTheStars.org.
  29. ↑ "Christian Slater for 46664". tm5 Networks. 46664.com. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Brangelina inspired Christian Slater to do more good". Theindian News. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  31. ↑ "Slater tackles carpenter role on new house". Hattiesburg American.com. December 11, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  32. ↑ "1993 MTV Movie Awards". MTV. July 13, 1993. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
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