Verne Troyer has died at 49.
Verne Troyer — best known for playing Mini-Me in the ‘Austin Powers’ comedies, and for being one of the shortest men in the world — has died.
Verne died Saturday, according to a statement from his family. We’d been told he was on some form of life support since being taken to the hospital earlier this month after cops got a report he was drunk and suicidal, and was treated for possible alcohol poisoning.
Verne’s family says during the recent adversity, « he was baptized while surrounded by his family. »
He also struggled with alcoholism for years and had been to rehab many times.
Troyer was born with the genetic disorder known as achondroplasia dwarfism, but said growing up on a farm in Michigan he was never treated differently by his parents than his average-sized siblings.
Verne began his Hollywood career in 1994 as a stunt double for Baby Bink in the film « Baby’s Day Out. » He then landed small roles in « Men in Black » and « Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas »… before making it big as Mini-Me in 1999’s « Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. »
He continued to land bit roles in comedies and appeared on many popular reality shows over the years … like « Celebrity Juice, » « Celebrity Wife Swap, » and « The Surreal Life. »
Verne was 49.
RIP
