Verne Troyer
Verne Troyer | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Actor Stunt performer |
Years active | 1994–present |
Spouse | Genevieve Gallen (2004; annulled) |
Verne J. Troyer (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor and stunt performer. Troyer is notable for his height of 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m), the result of cartilage–hair hypoplasia dwarfism,[1] making him one of the shortest men in the world. He is best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series of comedy films.
Personal life
Troyer was born in Sturgis, Michigan, the son of Susan, a factory worker, and Reuben Troyer, a repair technician.[2] He has two siblings, Davon and Deborah. He grew up in Centreville, Michigan and graduated from high school in 1987.
Troyer reportedly married model Genevieve Gallen on February 22, 2004 but filed for an annulment the next day. Though the couple's engagement was widely reported, Troyer and his attorney deny that the two ever had any formal wedding plans, saying that Gallen had fabricated the story for her own financial gain.[3]
Sex tape scandal
On June 25, 2008, a private home videotape was released which showed Troyer and his former live-in girlfriend Ranae Shrider having sex. The video, which had been made during the Easter Weekend of 2008 at Raffles L’Ermitage hotel,[4] was leaked to the public by Shrider to TMZ.[5] Kevin Blatt, the man responsible for brokering the deal for the Paris Hilton sex tape in 2003, tried to sell the video. Troyer sued TMZ, Blatt, and online rental company SugarDVD, for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Baby's Day Out | Stuntman | first film role as Stuntman |
1996 | Dunston Checks In | Stuntman | |
1996 | Jingle All the Way | Stuntman & "little santa" | |
1996 | Pinocchio's Revenge | Pinocchio's miniature double | first acting film role |
1997 | Men in Black | Alien Son | |
1997 | Volcano | Stuntman | |
1997 | RocketMan | Stuntman | |
1997 | Wishmaster | Creature stage #1 | |
1998 | My Giant | Wrestler | |
1998 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas | Wee Waiter | |
1998 | The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: Scared Silly | Sundae | |
1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Baby Joe | |
1999 | Here Lies Lonely | Virgil | |
1999 | Instinct | Gorilla Performer | |
1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Mini-Me | |
2000 | Mission Imp | Ethan Runt | |
2000 | Bit Players | Marty Rosenthal | |
2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Band Member | |
2001 | Bubble Boy | Dr Phreak | |
2001 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | Griphook the Goblin | |
2002 | Run for the Money | Atilla | |
2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Mini-Me | |
2003 | Pauly Shore is Dead | Himself | |
2006 | The Benchwarmers | Himself | Cameo appearance |
2007 | Postal | Himself | |
2007 | Drake & Josh | Chuck | Cameo appearance |
2008 | The Love Guru | Coach Punch Cherkov | |
2008 | College | Himself | |
2009 | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Percy | |
2012 | Keith Lemon: The Film | Archimedes |
Television work
- Masked Rider (1995–1996) (stunts for Paul Pistore)
- Shasta McNasty (1999–2000)
- Jack of All Trades (2000) – Napoleon Bonaparte
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002) – Angus
- Boston Public (2003) – Taylor Prentice (2 episodes)
- Karroll's Christmas (2004)
- The Girls Next Door (2005) - himself (episode "Fight Night")
- The Surreal Life (2005)
- Bo! in the USA (2006)
- The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007)
- Welcome to Sweden (2007)
- Celebrity Juice (2008) - himself
- The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest... (2008) - commentator
- The Podge and Rodge Show (2008) - himself
- Celebrity Big Brother (2009) - himself
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2009) - himself
- The Paul O'Grady Show (2009) - himself
- WWE Raw (2009) - guest host
- Celebrity Juice (2010) - himself
References
- ^ As stated by Troyer during interview on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, 25 September 2009.
- ^ Verne Troyer Biography (1969-) from FilmReference.com
- ^ "Mini-Me Actor Challenges Model's Marriage".
- ^ Sherri L. Shaulis (2008-07-03). "AVN Exclusive: Verne Troyer's Ex Discusses Sex Tape, Relationship, More". AVN. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
- ^ Isola, Laurie (2008-06-26). "Troyer in Sex Tape Scandal". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-04.