The star who made it big as Mini-Me is dead at 49
HE made his name in Hollywood playing the unforgettable MiniMe in the Austin Powers spoof spy movies.
Those who worked with him in film and TV described him as a ‘beacon of positivity’.
But yesterday, as tributes poured in for Verne Troyer, who has died at 49, it became clear that his long-term battle with mental health problems had become too much to bear.
Troyer, who stood just 2ft8in, had a history of depression and alcoholism and was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles earlier this month.
A statement on his official Facebook page announced his death ‘ with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts’.
It added that the actor had ‘struggled and won’ his mental health battles many times but said ‘unfortunately this time was too much’.
Austin Powers star Mike Myers led tributes yesterday, writing: ‘Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honour of working with him. It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed.’
British actor Warwick Davis, who was born with a rare form of dwarfism, wrote: ‘ So sad to hear that my friend has passed away. We shared a mutual respect for each other’s work, and I always admired his good humour and lovely nature in the face of adversity.
‘Now, for the first time, he’ll be looking down on us all, and laughing!’
Singer Vanilla Ice and American Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth posted images of themselves with Troyer following the news of his death.
The statement on his Facebook account, which did not say where he had died, described him as a fighter.
‘Over the years he’s struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much,’ it 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.’
Troyer had also needed hospital treatment last year. At that time saying: he ‘As released you know, a statement I’ve battled alcohol addiction in the past and while it’s not always been an easy fight, I’m willing to continue my fight day by day...’ As well as the Austin Powers franchise, Troyer’s film credits include playing Griphook in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first of the movie series.
He also appeared in Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus and The Love Guru. And he had guest spots on TV series including Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Scrubs and Two And A Half Men.
He took part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2009, coming fourth. Troyer, who was born with a genetic bone growth disorder called achondroplasia, grew up in an Amish community in Michigan. In 2015, he told the Guardian: ‘ My family is average- sized, apart from me. ‘I didn’t really think about my size until I got older, a few years before high school. It had never really fazed me that much.’ He said his parents taught him to be ‘optimistic and independent’, adding: ‘They made me feel that I could do anything I set my mind to, which has really helped me.’ He is survived by his partner, 43- year- old actress Brittney Powell.
‘Size has never really fazed me’