Tributes have been paid to the late actor and comedian Tony Slattery, who passed away aged 65.
Slattery who appeared on Channel Four improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as Have I Got News For Your, and Just A Minute, died following a heart attack, his long term partner Mark Michael Hutchinson confirmed.
"It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening", Hutchinson said in a statement.
As well as comedy, Slattery also featured in several films during the 1980s and 1990s, including The Crying Game directed by Neil Jordan, How To Get Ahead by Richard E Grant, as well as Peter's Friends by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
His career also saw him earn a Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy Performance for the Tim Furth play, Neville's Island.
He also appeared in the final Carry On film, Carry On Columbus; Robin Hood, Red Dwarf, The English Harem, Cold Blood, The Royal, and Coronation Street.
Slattery was also a contemporary of Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie at the University of Cambridge.
Taking to Instagram, Stephen Fry paid tribute to Slattery.
"So very sad to have lost the wonderful Tony Slattery, just about the gentlest, sweetest soul I ever knew", he said. "Not to mention a screamingly funny and deeply talented wit and clown. A cruel irony that fate should snatch him from us just as he had really begun to emerge from his lifelong battle with so many dark demons".
"He had started live 'evenings with' and his own podcast series. Lovely, at least, this past year for him to have found to his joyous surprise that he was still remembered and held in great affection".
"Love and condolences to Mark (Hutchinson), his staunch, devoted life partner of almost 40 years".
