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 breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean, a sociopathic high school student, in the satire Heathers (1988). He received critical acclaim for playing the title role in the USA Network television series Mr. Robot (2015–2019): it earned him the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film, and additional nominations for that award in 2017 and 2018.
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 actors’ agent turned casting executive and producer.[1][2] He has a maternal half-brother, Ryan Slater, who also became an actor.[3] His great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater.[4]
Slater made his big-screen debut in The 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 a cult following. His career improved with a role in The Name of the Rose (1986), playing alongside Sean Connery.[6] Slater played Connery's apprentice monk, and they investigated a series of murders at a Benedictine abbey. Slater next played Junior Tucker in Francis Ford Coppola's Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).
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.[7] 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.[6] 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.[6] 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."[8]
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.[6] Slater subsequently donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities.[6] 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.
In October 2014,[12] Slater signed on for his title role in the television series on USA NetworkMr. 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.[13] 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.[14]
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,[15] 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.[16]
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.[17] 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".[18]
From 2021 to 2022, he voiced the character Rand Ridley on the adult sci-fi animated sitcomInside Job. The show's creator announced the cancellation of the show in January 2023.[19]
Personal life
In 2000, Slater married Ryan Haddon, the daughter of model Dayle Haddon. They have two children, a son, Jaden Christopher, born in 1999, and a daughter, Eliana Sophia, born in 2001.[6] In 2003, Haddon was arrested for assaulting Slater during an argument at a Hard Rock Cafe while on vacation in Las Vegas.[20] Haddon allegedly threw a glass bottle and cut Slater's neck. The wound required 20 stitches. Haddon was charged with domestic battery, booked at Las Vegas' Clark County Detention Center, and freed after posting bond.[20][21] 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.[22]
On December 2, 2013, Slater married Brittany Lopez in Florida after three years of dating.[23][24] They have a daughter together, born in August 2019, and a son, born in July 2024.[25]
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.[6][29] At one time he said, "Work is my hobby, staying sober is my job."[30] After living in recovery, he said in 2009, "Work is my job, and having adventures with my kids. My kids are all-important."[31]
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.[31]
In 1994, he was arrested when he tried to board a commercial plane with a gun in his baggage.[29] He was sentenced to three days of community service.[32][33]
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.[6][29] 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.[3]
On May 24, 2005, Slater was arrested in Manhattan, after allegedly groping a woman on the street.[34] Slater was charged with third-degree sexual abuse.[34][35] The charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence and on the condition that Slater keep out of trouble for six months.[36]
Philanthropy
Slater has been a supporter of several charities, including 21st Century Leaders, Global Green, and Whatever It Takes.[37] Slater appeared in an educational video on behalf of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity for AIDS awareness.[38] He has also worked to promote humanitarian work in South Africa.[39] In early May 2009, Slater visited wounded and recovering soldiers of Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the USO.[1] 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.[40]
Filmography
Slater speaking at the Mr. Robot panel during the 2015 PaleyFest
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