Early life

Slater was born in New York City, to Michael Hawkins (né Thomas Knight Slater), an actor who is also known as Michael Gainsborough, and Mary Jo Slater (née Lawton), an acting agent turned casting executive and producer. Slater has a maternal half-brother, Ryan Slater, who is also an actor. His great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater. Though he played 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.

Career

Early career

Following a run on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope, Slater 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, despite gaining 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), 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.'

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. Slater subsequently donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities. 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 popular comedy opus Very Bad Things opposite Cameron Diaz.

Since 2000

After his highly publicized brushes with the law, Slater's standing as a major movie star began to fade. 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. 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. 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, and was part of the ensemble in Lars von Trier's controversial Nymphomaniac.

Slater is reportedly 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 PI Vic Valentine.

He co-stars in a 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.

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). In 2003, Haddon was arrested for assaulting Slater at a Hard Rock Cafe while on a trip to Las Vegas. Haddon allegedly threw a glass bottle and gashed Slater’s neck open. 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. 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.

Slater was once quoted as saying "Work is my hobby, staying sober is my job."

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

Arrests and convictions

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

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

In 1997, Slater was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and a police officer while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 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.

On May 24, 2005, Slater was arrested in Manhattan, New York, after he allegedly sexually harassed a woman on the street. 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. The charges were later dropped on the condition that Slater keep out of trouble for six months.

Charity work

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 1994, Slater donated his earnings from the film Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles to River Phoenix’s favorite charities. 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. 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

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	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-video
2005	Alone in the Dark	Edward Carnby
2005	Mindhunters	J.D. Reston	Direct-to-video
2005	Deal, TheThe Deal	Tom Hanson	Direct-to-video; also executive producer
2006	Crossing the Line	Himself	Documentary
2006	Bobby	Daryl Timmons
2006	Hollow Man 2	Michael Griffin/Hollow Man	Direct-to-video
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-video
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-video
2012	Soldiers of Fortune	Craig Mackenzie
2012	El Gringo	Lieutenant West
2012	Freaky Deaky	Skip Gibbs	Direct-to-video
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-video
2013	Nymphomaniac	Joe’s father
2014	Ask Me Anything	Paul Spooner
2014	Way of the Wicked	Henry	Direct-to-video
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
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	10 episodes
2015	Jake and the Never Land Pirates	The Grim Buccaneer (voice)	Episode: "Mystery of the Mighty Colossus"
2016-present	The Lion Guard	Ushari (voice)	4 episodes

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	Won
		Best Kiss		Won
1994		Best Kiss	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	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 Television Actor		Won
	Satellite Award	Best Supporting Television Actor		Won
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series		Won

Charities

Christian Slater supports the following charitable causes: Pediatric AIDS, Diabetes, AIDS, Environment.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]