Verne Troyer, best known for playing the character of Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movie series, died Saturday, according to his Facebook account.
"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," a post said.
He was 49.
Troyer was just 2-feet, 8-inches tall as a result of achondroplasia dwarfism. Besides playing Mini-Me in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Austin Powers in Goldmember", Troyer also played roles in a number of popular shows such as "Scrubs", "Two and a Half Men" and "Boston Public." He appeared in some 30 films and 25 TV shows.
Troyer, who suffered from alcoholism and depression, had been hospitalized in recent weeks, according to Entertainment Weekly. A statement posted to Instagram at the beginning of April noted he was “getting the best care possible” and “resting comfortably.”
