Verne Troyer, best known for his comic role as Mini-Me in two of Austin Powers' three films, has passed away. He was 49 years old.
Troyer played alongside Mike Myers as the eighth-size clone and silent sidekick of the evil Dr. Evil in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Hit Me, and played Myers' tiny nemesis in the third opus of the franchise, Austin Powers in Goldmember. .
The Los Angeles-based actor died Saturday, according to a statement posted on his social networks. The circumstances of his death were not given. The statement describes Troyer as "extremely caring" and "a fighter", and mentioned depression and suicide:
"Over the years, he struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought a bit more, but unfortunately this time it was too much," the statement said. "Depression and suicide are very serious issues, you never know what kind of fighting is going on inside, be nice to each other, and always know it's never too late to ask for help someone.
He also represented the Banker Goblin Griphook in Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone in 2001 and appeared in another Mike Myers movie, The Love Guru of 2008.
"Troyer was born in 1969 in Sturgis, Michigan, with achondroplasia, a genetic disease that kept him less than 3 feet tall," reports the Associated Press. He had openly fought against depression and alcoholism, adds the AP.
Celebrities expressed their condolences on social media.
So sad to read of the passing of Verne Troyer. A lovely smile with a caring and big heart, he helped raise money on behalf of @starkeycares for free hearing aids for deaf and hard of hearing people. RIP
Mike Myers paid tribute to the death of his co-star, in a statement tweeted by Ryan Parker, a writer at The Hollywood Reporter.
"Verne was the accomplished professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honor of working with him," Myers wrote. "It is a sad day, but I hope he's in a better place. He will be greatly missed."
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