American actor and comedian, Verne Troyer has died at age 49. Verne is known for his comedic role when he played Mini-Me in two of the three Austin Powers movies.
The Los Angeles based actor who starred alongside Mike Meyers as the one-eighth-size clone and silent sidekick of villain Dr. Evil in 1999’s Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was announced death according updates on his social media accounts.
Verne Troyer cause of death
Verne Troyer’s cause of death was undisclosed. But, the statement dropped on the social media accounts describes Troyer as “extremely caring” and “a fighter,” and mentioned depression and suicide:
“Over the years he’s struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much,” the statement 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. And always know, it’s never too late to reach out to someone for help.”
Verne Troyer, also portrayed the banker goblin Griphook in 2001′s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and appeared in another Mike Myers film, 2008’s The Love Guru.
“Troyer was born in 1969 in Sturgis, Michigan with achondroplasia, a genetic condition that kept him less than 3 feet tall,” reports the Associated Press. He’d openly battled depression and alcoholism, adds the AP.
Troyer heights 2 ft 8 in, the result of cartilage–hair hypoplasia, which made him one of the shortest men in the world. He was best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, and for his brief appearance as Griphook the goblin in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
