Sloat was born in Westport, Connecticut, as the oldest of six siblings. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Skidmore College in 2004.
Sloat plays both rock and blues on the guitar and also sings with the world champion Westminster barbershop chorus. In 2005, Sloat moved to Los Angeles and attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and began studying acting.
He was still taking classes when he noticed a casting advertisement for Paranormal Activity in the spring of 2006. The ad asked for unknown actors with the ability to improvise who could work during the night without knowing what the next scene would entail.
Released widely in 2009, Paranormal Activity proved to be an unexpected hit at the box office, grossing more than $190 million worldwide. He returned to the Paranormal Activity franchise in the film's prequel, and had a cameo appearance in the series' spin-off, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, in 2014.
