Verne Troyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Verne Troyer | |
 Verne Troyer, May 2007 |
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| Born | January 1, 1969 Sturgis, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Actor, Stunt Performer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) | Genevieve Gallen (2004) |
Verne J. Troyer (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor and stunt performer. Verne is notable for his height of 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m), the result of dwarfism making him one of the shortest men in the world. As a professional actor, he is most noted for playing the character of Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films.
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[edit] Career
Shortly after his high school graduation in 1987, Verne moved with some friends to Arlington, Texas, where, in 1993, he got his first break into show business as a stunt double for a 9-month-old baby in the film Baby's Day Out (1994). Troyer is best known for his role as "Mini-Me" in the hit comedy Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). He has also had roles in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and The Love Guru.
[edit] Reality TV appearances
In 2005, Troyer appeared in the fourth season of The Surreal Life. Memorable moments included Troyer getting drunk on the first day of the show, riding his mobility scooter in the nude and urinating on the floor in the corner of the room.
Troyer also appeared on the UK reality show Celebrity Big Brother in 2009. He was the 3rd person to enter the house on launch night, January 2, 2009, just one day after his 40th birthday. Troyer entered the house via a ramp after declaring that he "doesn't do stairs" and moved about the Big Brother House using a mobility scooter. He came 4th in the competition.
[edit] Personal life
Troyer was born in Sturgis, Michigan, the son of Susan, a factory worker, and Reuben Troyer, a repair technician.[1] He has two siblings, Davon and Deborah. He grew up in Centreville, Michigan and graduated from high school in 1986. He worked at Taco Bell from the age of 16 until he was 21.
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 entire story for her own financial gain.[2]
In 2009, after appearing on Big Brother in the UK, Troyer had a brief relationship with English topless model Chanelle Hayes.
[edit] Sex tape scandal
On June 25 2008, a private home videotape of Troyer and his former live-in girlfriend Ranae Shrider having sex was released, which had been made during the Easter weekend of 2008 at Raffles L’Ermitage hotel,[3] was leaked to the public by TMZ[4]. Kevin Blatt, the man responsible for brokering the deal for the Paris Hilton sex tape in 2003, attempted to sell the video. Troyer sued TMZ, Blatt, and online rental company SugarDVD for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement.
[edit] 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 | |
| 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 Philosopher'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 | |
| 2008 | The Love Guru | Coach Punch Cherkov | |
| 2008 | College | Himself | |
| 2009 | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Percy |
[edit] 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 (cast member in 2005)
- Bo! in the USA (2006)
- The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007)
- Welcome to Sweden (2007)
- Celebrity Juice (2008)
- The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest... (2008) (Commentator)
- The Podge and Rodge Show (2008) - Himself
- Celebrity Big Brother (2009) - Himself
[edit] References
- ^ Verne Troyer Biography (1969-) from FilmReference.com
- ^ "Mini-Me Actor Challenges Model's Marriage". http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2004-06-08#celeb9.
- ^ Sherri L. Shaulis (2008-07-03). "AVN Exclusive: Verne Troyer's Ex Discusses Sex Tape, Relationship, More". AVN. http://business.avn.com/articles/31086.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
- ^ "Troyer in Sex Tape Scandal". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=27632. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
[edit] External links
- Verne Troyer at the Internet Movie Database
- The Local - Verne Troyer in Sweden
- Verne Troyer interview on Movieset.com
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