THE SEA HAS A NEW LEADING MAN
John Slattery is currently shooting VLADIMIR, a limited series for 20th Television and Netflix, opposite Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall. He is most well-known for his Emmy Award nominated performance as “Roger Sterling” on the critically acclaimed cable series MAD MEN, as well as numerous television roles on series such as DOCUMENTARY NOW, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, SEX AND THE CITY, VEEP, NEXT, MRS. AMERICA, and THE GOOD FIGHT. He also earned a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Guest Actor, for his role in the streaming series WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: FIRST DAY OF CAMP.
His previous feature film credits include Tom McCarthy’s feature film SPOTLIGHT, NUREMBERG, I’LL TAKE THE HAMM, CONFESS, FLETCH, AVENGERS: ENDGAME, ANT MAN, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, IRON MAN 2, BLUEBIRD, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, MONA LISA SMILE, THE STATION AGENT and TRAFFIC.
On Broadway, Slattery appeared in the Pulitzer Prize-winning RABBIT HOLE (Drama League Award), BETRAYAL, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, and THE FRONT PAGE, opposite Nathan Lane.
Slattery made his directorial debut on the fourth season of AMC’s Mad Men, of which he went on to direct five episodes. Additional television credits include Judd Apatow’s Netflix series Love, of which he directed three episodes. On the feature side, Slattery made his directorial debut with IFC’s God’s Pocket, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Turturro. Most recently, he directed the film MAGGIE MOORE(S), which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.
Q: How did growing up on the East Coast near Boston inform your perspective on our ocean?
A: I grew up spending summers on the south shore of Boston and Cape Cod. The beach and the ocean were built into our lives.
Q: Surfing is an incredibly personal experience with the ocean. How has it influenced the way you see the ocean as something worth protecting?
A: Although I spent my childhood at the beach, I didn’t start surfing until later in life. Maybe my favorite thing about surfing is the knowledge that the wave I’m riding has traveled a great distance to get to me. The ocean connects all of us.
Q: Has your experience as a surfer informed any of your choices as an actor, writer, director or producer—whether it’s in the projects you choose or how you approach them?
A: Anything shooting in a part of the world with surf gets high priority.
In the opening moments of Into the Sea, you say, “Life on Long Island revolves around water.” If someone has never seen the ocean, what’s the one story you’d tell them to make them understand why it matters?
A: I have a friend who’s an oyster farmer on Long Island who recently told me that he’s currently raising a million oysters in local waters. It’s a hard living, but one that feeds the community. Water quality is essential to his job. By protecting it, we keep the cycle going.
“The ocean has been a source of great joy and peace for me when I’m not behind or in front of the camera, and I’m delighted to be part of Protect Where We Play. My favorite thing about surfing may be the knowledge that the wave I’m riding has traveled a great distance to reach me. The ocean connects us all.”
—John Slattery, Actor, Director, Surfer
Q: What’s one small action you hope people in your audience—or even your colleagues—might take after hearing your message about ocean health?
A: Whether it’s as basic as helping to clean up a beach, or finding ways to limit one’s use of plastic…there are many simple and direct ways for everyone to contribute.
Now, it’s time to work on creating positive change and win for our ocean. By joining John Slattery and taking action to #ProtectWhereWePlay, you’re protecting the ocean and the future of the sports and entertainment we all love.
