On Saturday, April 21st, Verne Troyer passed away. The actor, most known for his role in the Austin Powers movies as Dr. Evil’s sidekick, was only 49 years old.
courtesy of: Facebook- Paul Mobley
While the cause was not immediately disclosed, his spokesperson confirmed his death in a statement released on Troyer’s Facebook page.
“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.”
The statement also mentioned depression and suicide. “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.”
Troyer also was known to struggle with alcoholism, nearly dying from alcohol poisoning in 2002. He announced he would be checking into a treatment center in 2017.
“Verne was also a fighter when it came to his own battles. Over the years he’s struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much.”
courtesy of: Sky News
Verne was born on January 1, 1969 and his movie debut came in the 1994 film “Baby’s Day Out” where he was a stunt double for a baby. His other roles include Griphook the goblin in the first Harry Potter film, and roles in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “The Love Guru,” and “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”
In 2000 he shared an MTV Movie Award for “Best On-Screen Duo” with Mike Myers for his role in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” He played Mini-Me, the protégé of Dr. Evil, who was played by Myers.
His family appreciates privacy in this difficult time and asks that donations be made in Verne’s honor. “In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Verne’s name to either of his two favorite charities; The Starkey Hearing Foundation and Best Buddies.”