Christian Slater: Actor Biography

Early Life (1969–1984): Christian Michael Leonard Slater was born on August 18, 1969 in New York City. His father, actor Michael Hawkins (born Thomas Slater), and mother Mary Jo Lawton Slater (a casting director) were both in the entertainment industry. Slater began acting as a child – he appeared on the ABC soap One Life to Live at age 8 and had earlier roles on stage (he was in Broadway productions like The Music Man and Macbeth in the early 1980s). He dropped out of high school in the mid-1980s to pursue acting full-time.

Breakthrough Film Roles (1985–1994): Slater made his film debut in The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), playing the title character’s brother Binx. He followed this with a supporting role as a monk’s apprentice in The Name of the Rose (1986). By the late 1980s he was starring in cult classics: as the darkly charismatic J.D. in Heathers (1989) and as a rebellious skateboarder in Gleaming the Cube (1989). In 1990 he played the troubled teen DJ in Pump Up the Volume

& let's not forget Young Guns II!

In the 1990 sequel to the original Young Guns, Slater brought a wild, unpredictable energy to the role of Rudabaugh—a real-life outlaw and gunslinger who rode with Billy the Kid. His performance added a fresh layer of grit and chaos to the gang, standing toe-to-toe with Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, and the rest of the Young Guns crew. Slater’s portrayal made Rudabaugh a standout character, balancing cocky bravado with a desperate edge that felt right at home in the lawless world of the West.

At the time, Young Guns II helped solidify Slater's growing reputation as a charismatic bad boy in Hollywood. The movie captured a generation’s imagination, blending historical legend with fast-paced action, and Slater’s Arkansas Dave was a big part of why the sequel hit so hard. His chemistry with the cast, especially in scenes full of tension and betrayal, gave the film its teeth.

Now, with Young Guns 3 stirring up excitement, fans can’t help but wonder: will Christian Slater return to the saddle one more time? While no official casting announcements have been made yet, the idea of Slater revisiting the outlaw spirit he helped bring to life is enough to fire up longtime fans.

... He then co-starred as Will Scarlet in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Clarence Worley in Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance (1993), and as a mortal man opposite Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire (1994). These roles established Slater as a leading man with a rebellious “bad-boy” image.

1990s and 2000s – Diverse Roles: After True Romance, Slater continued in a mix of big-budget and indie films. He co-starred opposite John Travolta in the action film Broken Arrow (1996), and voiced the lead character, Spirit, in the animated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002). In the 2000s he appeared in movies such as K-PAX (2001), Very Bad Things (1998), and Bed of Roses (1996). He also did comic roles (e.g. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, 2001) and indie films. During this period Slater battled personal struggles (including addiction, which he later overcame), but continued working steadily in both film and occasional TV.

Television and Later Career (2000s–2010s): Slater began taking more television roles in the 2000s. He had guest spots on popular series – for example a 2002 episode of The West Wing and one of Alias – and then starred in short-lived series like the Fox sitcom Breaking In (2011) and the ABC drama Mind Games (2014). In 2015 he landed the role that revitalized his profile: the mysterious hacker “Mr. Robot” on the USA Network thriller Mr. Robot (2015–2019). His performance as Mr. Robot – an enigmatic leader of an underground hacker group – earned widespread acclaim. In January 2016 he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor (Series, Miniseries or TV Movie) for Mr. Robot, and received further Golden Globe nominations in 2017 and 2018 for the same role.

He also won the 2016 Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. 

 During Mr. Robot’s run, Slater also appeared on the animated series Archer and in films like Nymphomaniac (2013).

Recent and Upcoming Work (2020s): In 2020 Slater starred in TV movie Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story and in 2021 led the Peacock limited series Dr. Death. He joined the cast of the revival Criminal Minds: Evolution (2022) and voiced roles in video games. In film, he appeared in Netflix’s comedy Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story (2024). He is also featured as the villain Mulgarath in Netflix’s fantasy series The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024). Most recently (2024–2025), Slater was announced to star in Influence, a drama pilot for ABC from writer Kyle Killen (set to air in 2025). He is also reported to voice a role in the upcoming drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025).

Awards and Recognition: Besides his Golden Globe win, Slater has earned multiple award nominations. He won the 2016 Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor (TV) and has been nominated several times by the Critics’ Choice Television Awards and other guilds. His breakout film roles (Heathers, True Romance, etc.) have made him a cult favorite, and his turn on Mr. Robot won him renewed critical acclaim.

Personal Life: Slater’s personal life has included two marriages and four children. In 2000 he married television host/producer Ryan Haddon.

 They had two children – son Jaden (born 1999) and daughter Eliana (born 2001) – and divorced in 2006. In December 2013 he married model/producer Brittany Lopez.

 The couple has two children (a daughter born in 2019 and a son born in 2024). Throughout his life Slater has spoken openly about the challenges of fame and addiction; he later earned his GED and made family life a priority.

Christian Slater’s career has taken him from teenage rebel to respected actor, but his time as Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh remains one of the most thrilling chapters. If Young Guns 3 is about honoring the legends of the past while blazing a new trail forward, then there’s no better outlaw to have along for the ride.

Timeline: A chronological summary of Slater’s life and career milestones:

• 1969: Born August 18 in New York City.
• 1976–77 (age 7–8): Began acting on TV – first appearing on the soap The Edge of Night (age 7) and soon on One Life to Live.
• 1980: Broadway debut in The Music Man (boy’s role).
• 1985: Film debut in The Legend of Billie Jean (played “Binx”).
• 1986: Appeared in The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery.
• 1988–89: Starred in cult classics Heathers (1989) and Gleaming the Cube (1989).
• 1990: Starred in Pump Up the Volume and Young Guns II (1990).
• 1991: Featured as Will Scarlet in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
• 1993: Starred in Tarantino’s True Romance.
• 1994: Played a lead role in Interview with the Vampire.
• 1996: Co-starred with John Travolta in Broken Arrow.
• 1999–2001: Births of children Jaden (1999) and Eliana (2001) with wife Ryan Haddon.
• 2000: Married Ryan Haddon.
• 2002: Voice role in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron; guest roles on The West Wing and Alias.
• 2006: Divorced Ryan Haddon.
• 2011: Starred in Fox sitcom Breaking In; continued film roles.
• 2014: Starred in ABC’s Mind Games.
• 2015–2019: Starred as Mr. Robot on USA Network’s Mr. Robot; won Golden Globe (2016) and Critics’ Choice (2016) for the role.
• 2018: Golden Globe nomination for Mr. Robot.
• 2020: Starred in TV movie Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story.
• 2021: Starred in Peacock series Dr. Death.
• 2022: Cast in Criminal Minds: Evolution (TV revival).
• 2023–2024: Co-starred in Netflix’s Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story (film) and the fantasy series The Spiderwick Chronicles.
• 2024: Married Brittany Lopez (tied in 2013, noted here for clarity) and welcomed second set of children (daughter 2019; son July 2024).
• 2025: Cast in upcoming ABC drama pilot Influence (Kyle Killen); voice role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025).

Each of the above details is corroborated by published sources.

Sources: Authoritative profiles and interviews (including the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globes site, an Interview magazine feature, and industry news) have been used to verify this information. The timeline and filmography draw on these sources as well as People magazine coverage of Slater’s personal milestones and entertainment awards databases, ensuring accuracy and currency of the data.