Verne Troyer, the actor best known for his role as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers franchise, has died at the age of 49.
Troyer had been hospitalized for about a month after a friend called law enforcement saying the actor was drunk and suicidal. He was treated for alcohol poisoning at that time.
Today, his family confirmed his death on Instagram:
It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today.
Verne was an extremely caring individual. He wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh. Anybody in need, he would help to any extent possible. Verne hoped he made a positive change with the platform he had and worked towards spreading that message everyday...
Standing at just 2'8" Verne's personality was bigger than life. He began his career as a stunt double for the baby in Baby's Day Out quitting his job at a Sprint store and never looking back. From there he had small roles and stunt parts in Men in Black and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
It was 1999 when he got his breakout role as Mini-Me alongside Mike Meyers in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. He reprised the role in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Ironically, he never stopped stunt work. Since he was one of the smallest men in the world there was no one who could be his double.
He kept working in film, including roles in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Gnome Alone. Verne recently finishing filming Hipsters, Gangsters, Aliens and Geeks where he played Emperor Beezel-Chugg.
Troyer also was frequently cast in roles on television from Sabrina the Teenage Witch to MadTV.
I can play the leading man. I can play the action hero, maybe in just a different way. I look at it as, you know, if you set your mind to it, you can do it. ~Verne Troyer
He even went to the super small screen with his YouTube channel where he had a Q&A show, "Ask Verne" segment, shared cooking and food thoughts and also challenged other YouTubers to do some very odd things. He ate baby food with Roman Atwood and rolled eggs with Logan Paul.
His family has requested that In lieu of flowers, to make a donation in Verne’s name to either The Starkey Hearing Foundation and Best Buddies, two of his two favorite charities.