Verne Troyer (January 1, 1969 – April 21, 2018) was an actor best known for his role as "Mini-Me," Dr. Evil's smaller and more concentrated pure evil protégé, in the hit comedy Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Even though Verne has become recognized as a "Big Man in the business," he has been working in show business as an actor and stuntman for several years. Troyer, born in Sturgis, Michigan, had always dreamed growing up of getting into showbiz. 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 showbiz as a stunt double for a 9-month-old baby on a film called Baby's Day Out (1994). Over the next few years, Verne made several film and television appearances, often portraying animals or small children.