Christian Slater | |
|---|---|
 Slater in 2024 | |
| Born | Christian Michael Leonard Slater (1969-08-18)August 18, 1969 (age 56) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Bill Slater (great-uncle) Dayle Haddon (former-mother-in-law) |
Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor. He made his film debut with a leading role inThe Legend of Billie Jean (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean, a sociopathic high school student, in the satireHeathers (1989).
In the 1990s, Slater starred in a number of big-budget films, includingYoung Guns II (1990),Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991),Interview with the Vampire (1994),Broken Arrow (1996), andHard Rain (1998) as well as cult films likeGleaming the Cube (1989),Pump Up the Volume (1990) andTrue Romance (1993). He has had roles in other notable films, includingThe 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),We Can Be Heroes (2020), andBlink Twice (2024).
He received critical acclaim for playing the title role in theUSA Network television seriesMr. Robot (2015–2019): it earned him the 2016Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film, and additional nominations for that award in 2017 and 2018. For his role as Mulgarath in fantasy seriesThe Spiderwick Chronicles (2024), Slater received theChildren's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performer.[1]
In addition to his live-action roles, Slater has had an extensive voice-acting career, with roles including Pips inFernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Slater inArcher (2014–2023), Ushari inThe Lion Guard (2016–2019), Rand Ridley inInside Job (2021–2022), andFloyd Lawton / Deadshot in theDC Animated Movie Universe.
Slater was born on August 18, 1969, inNew York City, the son ofMichael Hawkins (born Thomas Knight Slater), an actor also known as Michael Gainsborough; andMary Jo Slater (née Lawton), an actors’ agent turned casting executive and producer.[2][3] He has a maternal half-brother, Ryan Slater, who also became an actor.[4] His great-uncle was radio personalityBill Slater.[5]
He attended theDalton School, theProfessional Children's School and theFiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.[4]
Slater played his first television role at the age of eight, on theABC soap operaOne Life to Live.[6] Following a run onRyan's Hope, he made hisBroadway debut as thelisping Winthrop Paroo oppositeDick Van Dyke in the 1980revival ofThe Music Man.[2] Additional Broadway credits includeCopperfield,Merlin,Macbeth,Side Man, andThe Glass Menagerie. He also performed in London'sWest End inOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest andSwimming with Sharks.
Slater made his big-screen debut inThe Legend of Billie Jean (1985), playing Billie Jean's brother Binx. The film had been expected to be a big hit, but fell short at the box office. It has since gained acult following. His career improved with a role inThe Name of the Rose (1986), playing alongsideSean Connery.[7] Slater played Connery's apprentice monk, and they investigated a series of murders at a Benedictine abbey. Slater next played Junior Tucker inFrancis Ford Coppola'sTucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).
At the age of 18, Slater played the dark character J.D. in the 1989 filmHeathers alongsideWinona Ryder. Slater was chosen for the part over many other actors, includingBrad Pitt, and his performance drew a comparison with a youngJack Nicholson.[7] Slater also starred inGleaming the Cube and appeared inBeyond the Stars (both 1989). AfterHeathers, Slater had offers to play other troubled youths, including a rebellious teen inPump Up the Volume (1990) and a wild gunman inYoung Guns II (1990). In the latter, Slater acted alongsideEmilio Estevez,Lou Diamond Phillips andKiefer Sutherland.
In 1991, Slater was cast as Will Scarlett in the Hollywood big budget production ofRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves alongsideKevin Costner,Morgan Freeman andAlan 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 bigStar Trek fan (in addition to his mother,Mary Jo Slater, serving as the casting director for the film), he accepted a cameo role inStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, shortly after playingCharlie Luciano in the crime dramaMobsters.[7] The following year, he expanded his film genre and starred in the comedyKuffs oppositeMilla Jovovich. In 1993, Slater again stretched his acting skills, playing oppositeMarisa Tomei inUntamed Heart and playing Clarence Worley inTrue Romance, written byQuentin Tarantino, which received many rave reviews.[7] In his review ofTrue 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."[9] In the same year, he was the first choice for the role ofEric Draven in the movieThe Crow, directed byAlex Proyas.
He gained the role of the interviewer Daniel Molloy inInterview with the Vampire (1994) after the death of his friendRiver Phoenix, who was originally cast.[7] Slater subsequently donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities.[7] He played the character of Lewis in the romance filmBed of Roses in 1996 oppositeMary Stuart Masterson, then that of Riley Hale in the big-budgetJohn Woo filmBroken Arrow (1996), which also starredJohn Travolta. In 1998, Slater appeared in crime movieHard Rain alongsideMorgan Freeman. The same year, he also starred in the dark comedyVery Bad Things oppositeCameron Diaz.
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 successfulThe West Wing andAlias TV series. He was also part of Hollywood films, includingBobby and3000 Miles to Graceland.[7] He has also worked as a voice-over artist in productions, including the character of 'Pips' in the successful Australian-American animated filmFernGully: The Last Rainforest, Jet Fusion in an episode ofThe Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and narrating TV documentaries, includingPrehistoric Planet andDinosaur Planet. Slater also voiced the character John Watson a.k.a. "Wonko the Sane" inBBC Radio 4's production ofThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[10]
Slater starred in the television seriesMy Own Worst Enemy in 2008 andThe Forgotten in 2009. In 2011, he co-starred in the action filmThe River Murders, withRay Liotta andVing Rhames. Also in 2011, he starred in the television series,Breaking In, which ran for two seasons. Slater co-starred with Rhames again in the filmSoldiers of Fortune (2012), and in theSylvester Stallone action thrillerBullet to the Head (2013), directed byWalter Hill. He co-starred in the 2014 television series,Mind Games, which was cancelled after five episodes were aired.[11] He was part of the ensemble inLars von Trier's controversial film,Nymphomaniac.[12]
In October 2014,[13] Slater signed on for his title role in the television series onUSA NetworkMr. Robot. Slater plays a computer hacker, "Mr. Robot," who recruitsRami 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.[14] For his performance, he earned theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2016, with additional nominations in 2017 and 2018.[15]
Prior to beginning his role inMr. Robot, Slater announced in 2013 that he was developing and making a film based onWill Viharo's 1993neo-noir novelLove Stories Are Too Violent for Me,[16] the first of three works to feature Vic Valentine. However, the success ofMr. Robot and contracts for additional seasons has delayed his being able to develop his adaptation.[17]
Slater voices the character "Slater" on theFX original seriesArcher. He also provided the voice of Ushari theEgyptian Cobra inThe Lion Guard. He also made a short film forHP calledThe Wolf, which shows how easily malware can spread on unprotected printers and computers.[18] In 2018, Slater appeared inThe Public, the latest film by Estevez. At the world premiere of the film at theToronto Film Festival, Slater discussed his role, Josh Davis, withIkon 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".[19]
From 2021 to 2022, he voiced the character Rand Ridley on the adult sci-fianimated sitcomInside Job. The show's creator announced the cancellation of the show in January 2023.[20]
He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television in 2025.
In 2000, Slater married Ryan Haddon, the daughter of modelDayle Haddon. They have two children, a son, Jaden Christopher, born in 1999, and a daughter, Eliana Sophia, born in 2001.[7] In 2003, Haddon was arrested for assaulting Slater during an argument at aHard Rock Cafe while on vacation inLas Vegas.[21] Haddon allegedly threw a glass bottle and cut Slater's neck. The wound required 20 stitches. Haddon was charged withdomestic battery, booked at Las Vegas' Clark County Detention Center, and freed after posting bond.[21][22] They announced their separation over Christmas in 2004. Slater was living inLondon at the time, performing in a stage version ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The couple officiallyseparated in 2005 anddivorced in 2007.[23]
On December 2, 2013, Slater married Brittany Lopez inFlorida after three years of dating.[24][25] They have a daughter together, born in August 2019, and a son, born in July 2024.[26]
Slater practicesKempo Karate[27] and divides his time betweenCoconut Grove inMiami, Florida[28] andHell's Kitchen, Manhattan.[29]
Slater has had difficulties withsubstance abuse and has undergone treatment. In 1989, Slater was arrested for drunk driving. He was sentenced to ten days in jail.[7][30]
In 1994, he was arrested when he tried to board a commercial plane with a gun in his baggage.[30] He was sentenced to three days of community service.[31][32]
In 1997, Slater was convicted of punching his girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and assaulting a police officer while under the influence ofheroin,cocaine, and alcohol. He had consumed them for two days straight and had little to no sleep.[7][30] 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.[4]
On May 24, 2005, Slater was arrested in Manhattan, after allegedly groping a woman on the street.[33] Slater was charged with third-degree sexual abuse.[33][34] The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence and on the condition that Slater keep out of trouble for six months.[35]
After becoming sober, Slater said, "Work is my hobby, stayingsober is my job."[36] In a similar vein, he said, "Work is my job, and having adventures with my kids. My kids are all-important."[37]
The illusion of being very cool, that drinking is the hip thing to do and that you'll seem likeClark 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 withinsecurities. Actually, the fastest way of knowing who you are is to know who you're not.[37]
Slater has been a supporter of several charities, including 21st Century Leaders, Global Green, and Whatever It Takes.[38] Slater appeared in an educational video on behalf ofNelson Mandela’s46664 charity forAIDS awareness.[39] He has also worked to promote humanitarian work in South Africa.[40] In early May 2009, Slater visited wounded and recovering soldiers ofWalter Reed Army Medical Center for theUSO.[2] On December 10, 2009, Slater visitedHattiesburg, Mississippi, where he contributed work for the television showExtreme Makeover: Home Edition. The episode aired on March 21, 2010.[41]
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| 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. | |
| 1989 | Heathers | Jason "J.D." Dean | |
| 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[42] | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | Direct-to-video |
| 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-video | |
| 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-video | |
| 2007 | He Was a Quiet Man | Bob Maconel | |
| Slipstream | Ray / Matt Dodds / Patrolman #2 | ||
| The Ten Commandments | Moses | Voice; Direct-to-video[42] | |
| 2008 | Love Lies Bleeding | Pollen | Direct-to-video |
| Igor | Doctor Schadenfreude's Igor | Voice[42] | |
| 2009 | Dolan's Cadillac | Jimmy Dolan | Direct-to-video |
| Lies & Illusions | Wes Wilson | ||
| 2010 | Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey | Jammer | Voice |
| 2011 | Sacrifice | Father Porter | Direct-to-video |
| 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-video | |
| Freaky Deaky | Skip Gibbs | ||
| Dawn Rider | "Cincinnati" John Mason | Direct-to-video | |
| Rites of Passage | Delgado | ||
| Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood | Governor Bramlette | ||
| Back to the Sea | Jack | Voice[42] | |
| Assassin's Bullet | Robert Diggs | Direct-to-video | |
| 2013 | Bullet to the Head | Marcus Baptiste | |
| The Power of Few | Clyde | ||
| Stranded | Col. Gerard Brauchman | Direct-to-video | |
| Assassins Run | Michael Mason | ||
| Nymphomaniac | Joe's father | ||
| 2014 | Ask Me Anything | Paul Spooner | |
| Way of the Wicked | Henry | Direct-to-video | |
| 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[42] | |
| The Wife | Nathanial Bone | ||
| 2018 | The Public | Josh Davis | |
| Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | Floyd Lawton / Deadshot | Voice; Direct-to-video[42] | |
| 2020 | We Can Be Heroes | Tech-No | |
| 2023 | Chupa | Richard Quinn | |
| Freelance | Sebastian Earle | ||
| 2024 | Unfrosted | Mike Diamond | |
| Blink Twice | Vic | ||
| 2025 | If I Had Legs I'd Kick You | Charlie | Voice |
| 2026 | How to Rob a Bank | Filming[43] |
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| 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" |
| 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: "Joyride" | |
| 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 | |
| Great Books | Narrator | Voice; Episode: "Inferno" | |
| 2002–2003 | Prehistoric Planet | Voice; Season 2 | |
| 2003 | Dinosaur Planet | Voice; 4 episodes | |
| 2003, 2005 | The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius | Jet Fusion | Voice; 2 episodes[42] |
| 2004 | Top Gear | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2005–2012 | Robot Chicken | Various voices | Voice; 6 episodes |
| 2006 | Odd Job Jack | Agent Brody | Episode: "29.5" |
| 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 | Episode: "Sabre" | |
| 2011 | Entourage | Episode: "Out with a Bang" | |
| 2011–2012 | Breaking In | Oz | 20 episodes; also producer |
| 2012 | Phineas and Ferb | Paul the Delivery Guy | Voice; Episode: "Delivery of Destiny"[42] |
| 2013 | Out There | Johnny Slade | Voice; Episode: "Springoween"[42] |
| 2014 | Mind Games | Ross Edwards | 10 episodes |
| Stan Lee's Mighty 7: Beginnings | Lazer Lord | Voice; Television film[42] | |
| 2014–2016, 2022–2023 | Archer | Slater | Voice; 13 episodes |
| 2015 | Two and a Half Men | Christian Slater | Episode: "Of Course He's Dead" |
| Jake and the Never Land Pirates | The Grim Buccaneer | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2015–2019 | Mr. Robot | Mr. Robot | 45 episodes; also producer |
| 2016–2017 | Dawn of the Croods | Gurg | Voice; 3 episodes[42] |
| Live with Kelly | Himself | Guest host; 13 episodes | |
| 2016–2019 | The Lion Guard | Ushari | Voice; 13 episodes[42] |
| Milo Murphy's Law | Elliot Decker | Voice; 14 episodes[42] | |
| 2017 | Jeff & Some Aliens | Zergrees | 2 episodes[42] |
| 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 | Ren | Voice; Television short[42] | |
| 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"[42] |
| Willow | Allagash | Episode: "Prisoners of Skellin" | |
| Fleishman Is in Trouble | Archer Sylvan | 2 episodes[44] | |
| 2024 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Dr. Dorian Brauer / Mulgarath | 8 episodes |
| 2024-2025 | Dexter: Original Sin | Harry Morgan | Main role |
| TBA | Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas† | Torrance | Voice; post-production |
| † | Denotes series that have not yet been released |
| 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 |
| 2023 | Gutenberg! The Musical! | Producer(one night cameo) | James Earl Jones Theatre |
| 2025 | Curse of the Starving Class | Weston Tate | Pershing Square Signature Center |
