Actor Verne Troyer, who was famously known for his role as Mini-Me in the “Austin Powers” franchise, died at the age of 49.
He appeared as the bite-size clone of Dr. Evil in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”
“Over the years he’s struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much,” the statement said. “Depression and suicide are very serious issues. You never know what kind of battle someone is going through inside. Be kind to one another. And always know, it’s never too late to reach out to someone for help.
“Even though his stature was small and his parents often wondered if he’d be able to reach up and open doors on his own in his life, he went on to open more doors for himself and others than anyone could have imagined. He also touched more peoples hearts than he will ever know.”
The social media message added that he was recently baptized and was surrounded by friends and family.
“Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honor of working with him,” Mike Myers said in a statement, according to reports. “It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed.”
Troyer is survived by girlfriend Brittney Powell, a German-American actress.
He starred in 58 movies and TV shows, appearing in popular reality shows like “UK Celebrity Big Brother 2009,” “Celebrity Juice,” and “The Surreal Life.”
Friends Read Free