Verne Troyer (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Verne Troyer (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor and stunt man who has appeared in several movies, mostly in non-speaking roles. He stands 81 centimeters (2 feet, 7 inches) tall.

Biography

Personal life

Troyer was born in Sturgis, Michigan to Susan, a factory worker, and Reuben Troyer, a repairman. He has two siblings, Davon and Deborah, and grew up in Centreville, Michigan, graduating high school in 1987. He was married to Genevieve Gallen. Troyer filed for annulment on February 23, 2004.

Film and TV career

Troyer's most famous role is perhaps Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series of movies, a character who is a miniature clone of Dr. Evil. Other notable roles include a part in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and as the small Circus Circus casino employee in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He was a series regular on the UPN comedy Shasta McNasty. He also played Napoleon Bonaparte in the short-lived syndicated series Jack of All Trades.

Troyer appeared as himself in an Apple Computer commercial for its 12-inch and 17-inch PowerBooks, in which he used the larger computer and Chinese NBA star Yao Ming used the smaller one. He also appears as himself in a commercial for GEICO.

Troyer also appeared on VH1's 4th season of The Surreal Life. Troyer's participation in the show received much media attention when he became drunk and urinated on the carpet. Verne returned in 2007 for The Surreal Life: Fame Games, a game show-like version of the show where past cast members returned to see who is the biggest star.

Troyer and the American actor Richard Kiel are also the protagonists in the Swedish reality show Welcome to Sweden where they travel around in Sweden on scooters. The show was filmed in 2006 and aired on Swedish channel 5 in early 2007.

Filmography

As actor:

Pinocchio's Revenge (1996)
Men in Black (1997)
Wishmaster (1997)
My Giant (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Mighty Joe Young (1998)
Here Lies Lonely (1999)
Instinct (1999)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000)
Bubble Boy (2001)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Run for the Money (2002)
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003)
Karroll's Christmas (2004) (TV)

Upcoming:

Postal (2007)

As stuntman:

Baby's Day Out (1994)
Dunston Checks In (1996)
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Volcano (1997)
RocketMan (1997)
My Giant (1998)

Television work

Masked Rider (1995-1996) (stunts for Paul Pistore)
Shasta McNasty (1999-2000)
Jack of All Trades (2000)
Karroll's Christmas (2004)
The Surreal Life (cast member in 2005)
Bo' Selecta! (2006)
The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007)
Welcome to Sweden (2007)