This Saturday, Verne Troyer, the actor best known for his role as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film franchise, has died at the age of 49.The actor’s family had confirmed Troyer’s passing.
What happened?
Troyer died Saturday, as confirmed by his family, who wrote the following passage on the actor’s official Facebook page:
“It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today.”
“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.”
“He inspired people around the world with his drive, determination, and attitude. On film & television sets, commercial shoots, at comic-con’s & personal appearances, to his own YouTube videos, he was there to show everyone what he was capable of doing. Even though his stature was small and his parents often wondered if he’d be able to reach up and open doors on his own in his life, he went on to open more doors for himself and others than anyone could have imagined. He also touched more peoples hearts than he will ever know.”
“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. During this recent time of adversity he was baptized while surrounded by his family. The family appreciates that they have this time to grieve privately.”
“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. 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.”
Troyer’s passing was also confirmed on his Instagram account.
He had previously been taken to a hospital earlier this month after it was reported to cops that Troyer was found drunk and suicidal, and was also thought to have alcohol poisoning, according to TMZ.
As an actor, he was arguably best known for the character of Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film franchise. Troyer started his Hollywood career in 1994 as a stunt double for the film Baby’s Day Out. In addition to his appearances on film and television, he also branched out to online media, even developing his own YouTube channel.
What is Verne Troyer’s official cause of death?
At this time, Troyer’s official cause of death remains unconfirmed and it is unknown if an autopsy has been performed.
As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available.