Christian Slater : The King of New York

Christian Michael Leonard Slater has always been viewed by Hollywood as a living paradox. Is he a genuine talent, a captivating maverick swimming within a sea of mediocrity, or a lucky chancer who got by impersonating screen legend Jack Nicholson? Born on August 18th, 1969, in New York City, New York, USA, Slater is the son of actor Michael Hawkins (born Thomas Knight Slater) and respected casting agent Mary Jo Slater (née Lawton). His maternal half-brother Ryan Slater is an actor and his great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater. Slater attended the Dalton School, the Professional Children's School and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts which are all located in New York.

Slater made his credited television debut at the age of 8 in the ABC soap opera 'One Life To Live' and he made his Broadway debut as the lisping Winthrop Paroo opposite Dick Van Dyke in a 1980 revival of 'The Music Man'. He's delivered critically acclaimed performances in a range of stage plays, on and off Broadway, in London's West End and in regional theatre. He's also accepted invitational appearances as a stage guest in other European countries, extending his wide-ranging theatrical career.


Slater made his big screen debut in the cult item 'The Legend Of Billie Jean' opposite Helen Slater which led many to believe he was her real-life relative. His major big screen breakthrough came when he bared his soul and a whole lot more in the controversial religious thriller 'The Name Of The Rose' (1986), based on a bestselling book by Umberto Eco. He then became an instant star when he was cast as James Dean wannabe J.D. in the pitch black cult satire 'Heathers' (1989), bringing to mind his friend and mentor Martin Sheen's performance as Jimmy Dean obsessed faux-teen Kit Carruthers in 'Badlands' (1973). Cult status was assured when Slater laid down an iconic radio performance as subversive introvert Hard Harry in Canadian musicologist Allan Moyle's clarion call-to-arms 'Pump Up The Volume' (1990).


Slater's dark side became the subject of every interview in the 1990s. For example, the time he stole a boat from Alcatraz and returned it during the filming of 'Murder In The First' (1995), and when asked why he stole it, replied (stupidly and) nonchalently, "I just went to get some cigs." The notorious "butt-pinching on a balcony" incident, rumbles with the police, brawls and assaults, drink driving, drug-fuelled criminal incidents never straying far from the forbidden truth. His conservative friend and multi-time co-star Gary Oldman famously said (paraphrasing), "I love Christian but he should be jailed." Yet Slater survived this dark chapter of his life and has re-established himself as one of America's more ambitious actors, once again finding himself being embraced as one of New York's favourite sons. He's also become a Golden Globe nominee through his work in television. Film critic Roger Ebert once said Slater's an actor whose volatile talent needs to be tapped by a director, because when it is, it's remarkably potent.


There's always been a good side to Christian Slater too. When he replaced his friend River Phoenix, victim of a drugs overdose, in the role of the interviewer in Neil Jordan's fanged fantasy 'Interview With The Vampire' (1994), it was leaked that he'd donated his earnings from the film to Phoenix's favorite charities. Slater works to promote humanitarian work in South Africa where he was once resident and has always strongly supported America's armed forces. He's continually travelled through his job as an actor, working with local communities wherever he's been posted, and remains a firm favourite here in the U K where he's been a gentleman. Nicolas Cage said on the dvd commentary track he recorded for John Woo's war picture 'Windtalkers' (2002) that Slater's blocking ability, improvisational skills and innate sense of camera positioning during dangerous, high-octane stunt set-ups was off the chart and as good as anyone he'd seen. For proof of this, check out his extraordinary performance underwater opposite Morgan Freeman in the pump-action heist picture 'Hard Rain' (1998).