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Verne Troyer, best known for his role as "Mini-Me" in the Austin Powers movies, died Saturday.
Troyer hailed from Sturgis in the western part of Michigan, which the Hollywood Reporter described as an Amish community.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but a posting on his official Facebook page noted that he battled depression at times:
"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...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."
The Los Angeles Times reports that Troyer had struggled with alcohol abuse and had been hospitalized earlier this month with suspected alcohol poisoning.
Jay Roach, Myers and Troyer's director in Austin Powers in Goldmember and Austin Powers, told the Hollywood Reporter:
"Verne was an amazing guy, a joyful collaborator, and a true master of comedic acting, a director's dream. We found ourselves cutting to his silent performances constantly to levitate the scenes. An excellent dancer too! He elevated the character that Mike Meyers and Michael McCullers wrote and helped turn Mini-Me into an unforgettable, iconic character, known and referenced around the world. I feel lucky I got to know him and work with him. So sad for him and his family, but also celebrating the joy Verne brought us all."
After his 1999 debut in "The Spy Who Shagged Me," he played Griphook in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Coach Punch Cherkov in The Love Guru, the Hollywood Reporter noted. He also had guest spots on TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrubs, Two and a Half Men and Boston Public.
