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John Slattery

American actor and director (born 1962)


American actor and director (born 1962)

FieldValue
imageDsc8013 r4 copy.jpg
captionSlattery in 2024
birthnameJohn M. Slattery Jr.
birth_date
birth_placeBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
educationCatholic University (BFA)
yearsactive1988–present
occupationActor, director
spouse
children1

John M. Slattery Jr. (born August 13, 1962) is an American actor and director. He is known for his role as Roger Sterling in the AMC drama series Mad Men (2007–15), for which he was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, along with winning two Critics' Choice Television Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

He is also known for his film roles including for his portrayal of Ben Bradlee, Jr., in the Best Picture-winning film Spotlight (2015), and the role of Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man 2 (2010), Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He has also acted in Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Reservation Road (2007), Charlie Wilson's War (2007), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Churchill (2017), Confess, Fletch (2022), and Nuremberg (2025). Slattery made his directorial film debut with God's Pocket (2014).

Slattery's lead television roles include Homefront (1991–1993), Maggie (1998–1999), Jack & Bobby (2004–2005), and neXt (2020). He has also had recurring roles in shows such as Desperate Housewives (2004–2007), 30 Rock (2010), Arrested Development (2013), Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015), Veep (2016), Modern Love (2019), Mrs. America (2020), and The Good Fight (2022).

Early life and education

Slattery was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Joan (née Mulhern), a retired accountant, and John "Jack" Slattery, a leather merchant. He is one of six children. As a young boy, he dreamed of being a baseball player.

Slattery is of Irish descent and was raised Catholic. He attended high school at Saint Sebastian's School in Newton, Massachusetts (since relocated to Needham, Massachusetts), and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Catholic University of America in 1984.

Career

Apart from his role on Mad Men, Slattery has had roles such as union organizer Al Kahn on Homefront; Senator Walter Mondale in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon; as political adviser Tommy Flannigan in the HBO series K Street; guest appearances as Will Truman's brother Sam on Will & Grace; as Michael Cassidy, Amy's estranged husband, on Judging Amy; politician Bill Kelley on Sex and the City; principal Dennis Martino on Ed; and college president Peter Benedict on Jack and Bobby. In March 2007, he began a series of appearances on Desperate Housewives portraying Victor Lang, Gabrielle Solis's (Eva Longoria) second husband, until his character's death in Season 4. In December 2009, Slattery appeared on The Colbert Report in a faux commercial advertising gold.

Slattery played Paul Moore, boyfriend of Katherine Watson (portrayed by Julia Roberts) in the film Mona Lisa Smile, and he portrayed Howie in David Lindsay-Abaire's play, Rabbit Hole. He had a small part as a teacher in the film Sleepers. He also appeared as a government promoter in the Clint Eastwood feature Flags of our Fathers and as CIA official Henry Cravely in Charlie Wilson's War. He was cast as Bert Miller, father of the leading female character, in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and in The Adjustment Bureau played Richardson, a mid-level agent in the mysterious paranormal agency called the Bureau. Slattery narrates the audiobook versions of Don DeLillo's 2007 novel Falling Man, Stephen King's 2008 psychological horror novel Duma Key, and Ernest Hemingway's 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms.

In 2013, Slattery directed his first feature film, God's Pocket (2014), which he co-wrote with Alex Metcalf. The film, based on a 1983 novel of the same name by Pete Dexter, premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by IFC Films.

In 2015, Slattery portrayed journalist Ben Bradlee Jr. in the Academy Award-winning, Golden Globe-nominated drama film Spotlight, and also appeared in the Netflix comedy series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, for which he earned a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series.

In 2025, Slattery portrayed Burton C. Andrus, the commandant of the prison housing Nazi war criminals being held for the post-World War II Nuremberg war crimes trials in the movie, Nuremberg.

Personal life

Slattery married actress Talia Balsam in 1998 (who also played his screen wife, Mona, in Mad Men). They have one son together. They live in SoHo, Manhattan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996City HallDetective George
Eraser FBI Agent Corman
SleepersRob Carlson
1997My Brother's WarDevlin
Red MeatStefan
1998HarvestSheriff Johnson
The Naked ManFerris
Where's Marlowe?Kevin Murphy
2000TrafficADA Dan Collier
2001Sam the ManMaxwell Slade
2002Bad CompanyRoland Yates
2003The Station AgentDavid
Mona Lisa SmilePaul Moore
2004NoiseDetective Rutherford
Dirty Dancing: Havana NightsBert Miller
2006The SituationColonel Carrick
Flags of Our FathersBud Gerber
2007UnderdogMayor
Reservation RoadSteve Cutter
Charlie Wilson's WarCIA Director Henry Cravely
2010Iron Man 2Howard Stark
2011The Adjustment BureauRichardson
ReturnBud
2012In Our NatureGil
2013BluebirdRichard
2014God's PocketDirectorial debut; also co-writer
2015Ted 2Shep Wild
Ant-ManHoward StarkCameo
SpotlightBen Bradlee Jr.
2016Captain America: Civil WarHoward Stark
2017ChurchillDwight D. Eisenhower
2019Avengers: EndgameHoward Stark
2022Confess, FletchFrank Jaffe
2023Maggie Moore(s)Director
2024UnfrostedRoger Sterling
2025NurembergCol. Burton C. Andrus
2026Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex PassCompleted

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Dirty Dozen: The SeriesPvt. Dylan Leeds7 episodes
1989Father Dowling MysteriesDougEpisode: "The Man Who Came to Dinner Mystery"
1991Under CoverGraham Parker13 episodes
Under CoverTelevision movie
Before the Storm
China BeachDr. BobEpisode: "Hello Goodbye"
1991–93HomefrontAl KahnMain role, 38 episodes
1995A Woman of Independent MeansDwightMiniseries; uncredited
Ned and StaceySamEpisode: "Threesome"
1996Lily DaleWill KidderTelevision movie
1997FedsMichael ManciniEpisode: "Smoking Gun"
1998From the Earth to the MoonWalter MondaleEpisode: "Apollo One"
Party of FiveJay Mott2 episodes
BeckerPeterEpisode: "Man Plans, God Laughs"
1998–99MaggieDr. Richard MeyersMain role, 11 episodes
1998Law & OrderArlen LevittEpisode: "Tabloid"
1999Will & GraceSam Truman2 episodes
1999–2000Judging AmyMichael Cassidy3 episodes
2000Sex and the CityBill Kelley2 episodes
Law & OrderDr. Richard ShipmanEpisode: "Stiff"
2001–02EdDennis MartinoRecurring role, 17 episodes
2002A Death in the FamilyJay FollettTelevision movie
2003K StreetTommy Flannegan10 episodes
2004The Brooke Ellison StoryEd EllisonTelevision movie
2004–05Jack & BobbyPeter BenedictMain role, 21 episodes
2007Desperate HousewivesVictor LangRecurring role, 14 episodes
2007–15Mad MenRoger SterlingMain role, 85 episodes
Also directed 5 episodes
2009The Colbert ReportJohn SlatteryEpisode: "Alicia Keys"
201030 RockSteven AustinEpisode: "Brooklyn Without Limits"
2011The SimpsonsRobert Marlowe (voice)Episode: "The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants"
2011–12The Cleveland ShowMayor Larry Box (voice)4 episodes
2013Arrested DevelopmentDr. Norman2 episodes
2015*Wet Hot American Summer:
First Day of Camp*Claude Dumet6 episodes
The Daily Show with Jon StewartSandwich ManEpisode: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Documentary Now!William H. SebastianEpisode: "Kunuk Uncovered"
2016VeepCharlie Baird6 episodes
2016–2017LoveDirector; 3 episodes
2018The RomanoffsDaniel Reese2 episodes
2019Modern LoveDennis
2020Mrs. AmericaFred SchlaflyMiniseries; 7 episodes
neXtPaul LeBlancMain role
2021Girls5evaHimselfEpisode: "Alf Musik"
Santa Inc.Larson (voice)3 episodes
2022The Good FightDr. Lyle Bettencourt9 episodes
2023What We Do in the ShadowsHimselfEpisode: Urgent Care
What If...?Howard Stark (voice)Episode: "What If... Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes?"
2025Harley QuinnFloronic Man / Jason Woodrue (voice)2 episodes
The Last FrontierSenior CIA OfficialRecurring role
2025–presentThe RainmakerLeo F. DrummondMain role
TBAVladimirJohnUpcoming series

Theater

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
1989The Lisbon TraviataPaulOff-Broadway
1990Mi Vida LocaPaco
1992The Extra ManDaniel
1993Laughter on the 23rd FloorKennyRichard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
1995Night and Her StarsCharles Van DorenThe American Place Theatre, Off-Broadway
1997Three Days of RainWalker/NedNew York City Center, Off-Broadway
2000BetrayalRobertAmerican Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2006Rabbit HoleHowieBiltmore Theatre, Broadway
2016The Front PageHildy JohnsonBroadhurst Theatre, Broadway

Video game

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2012DishonoredAdmiral Havelock

Music videos

YearTitleArtist(s)RoleRef.
2010Conversation 16The NationalSecret Service Agent

Awards and nominations

OrganizationsYearCategoryWorkResultRef.Critics' Choice Television AwardGotham Independent Film AwardIndependent Spirit AwardPrimetime Emmy AwardSatellite AwardScreen Actors Guild Award
2011Best Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesMad Men (season 4)
2012Mad Men (season 5)
2016Best Guest Performer in a Comedy SeriesWet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
2015Ensemble PerformanceSpotlight
2015Robert Altman Award
2008Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesMad Men (episode: "Long Weekend")
2009Mad Men (episode: "Six Month Leave")
2010Mad Men (episode: "The Gypsy and the Hobo")
2011Mad Men (episode: "Hands and Knees")
2015Best Cast in a Motion PictureSpotlight
2007Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesDesperate Housewives (season 4)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama SeriesMad Men (season 1)
2008Mad Men (season 2)
2009Mad Men (season 3)
2010Mad Men (season 4)
2012Mad Men (season 5)
2015Mad Men (season 7)
Outstanding Cast in a Motion PictureSpotlight
2016Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesVeep (season 5)

References

References

  1. (August 13, 2009). "Celebrity birthdays on Aug. 13". The Miami Herald.
  2. "Emmys.com".
  3. Patrick Pacheco. (May–June 2012). "John Slattery: A Boston Man Gone Mad". Boston Common Magazine.
  4. Stephanie M. Peters. (September 23, 2007). "John Mulhern, 80; lawyer triumphed on ice, in politics". The Globe.
  5. (August 15, 2009). "Mad Men's' John Slattery: Rise of the silver fox". The Daily News.
  6. Doyle, Stacey. (May 4, 2012). "John Slattery Talks to Boston Common Magazine About 'Mad Men' and More". Boston Common Magazine.
  7. Handy, Bruce. (August 13, 2009). "Mad Men Q&A: John Slattery".
  8. "Alumni". The Catholic University of America Office of Admissions.
  9. (December 15, 2009). "Prescott Financial – Gold, Women & Sheep". The Colbert Report.
  10. (January 22, 2014). "Sundance: IFC Films Acquires U.S. Rights to John Slattery's 'God's Pocket'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. de Bertodano, Helena. (April 8, 2013). "John Slattery on ageing, drinking, and how he'd like Mad Men to end". [[The Daily Telegraph.
  12. (May 6, 2015). "Mad Men star John Slattery is back in the Big Apple — where he belongs". Brick Underground.
  13. "Laughter on the 23rd Floor".
  14. (April 27, 1995). "THEATER REVIEW: NIGHT AND HER STARS; A Different Take On Quiz Scandals".
  15. (November 12, 1997). "THEATER REVIEW; Parents' Secrets Cry Out, But Children Don't Hear".
  16. "PHOTO CALL: Betrayal's Other Betrayers: Juliette Binoche and John Slattery".
  17. "Cynthia Nixon and John Slattery Tumble Into Rabbit Hole, a Broadway World Premiere".
  18. "Mad Men's Slattery to Join Nathan Lane in Starry Broadway The Front Page".
  19. "The National team up with John Slattery from 'Mad Men' in new video".
  20. "60th Primetime Emmy Awards".
  21. "61st Primetime Emmy Awards".
  22. "62nd Primetime Emmy Awards".
  23. "63rd Primetime Emmy Awards".
  24. "14th Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  25. "15th Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  26. "16th Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  27. "17th Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  28. "19th Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  29. "22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards".
  30. "23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards".
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