Verne Troyer Has Died
Judging by this week, it seems like 2018 is turning into a horrible reboot of 2016, the year that took every celebrity. First R. Lee Ermey checked into the afterworld, then Harry Anderson followed him, then Barbara Bush, then Avicii, and now Verne Troyer.
The awful news was delivered on Verne Troyer’s Facebook page. The note says that Verne died today. He was only 49.
Verne was in a bad way recently. He battled alcoholism for many years, but last week he was reportedly taken to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. It was reported that Verne was suicidal, so he was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold at the hospital. The statement doesn’t mention how Verne died, but does mention the struggles he’s been going through lately.
Verne was an extremely caring individual. He wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh. Anybody in need, he would help to any extent possible. Verne hoped he made a positive change with the platform he had and worked towards spreading that message everyday.
He inspired people around the world with his drive, determination, and attitude. On film & television sets, commercial shoots, at comic-con’s & personal appearances, to his own YouTube videos, he was there to show everyone what he was capable of doing. Even though his stature was small and his parents often wondered if he’d be able to reach up and open doors on his own in his life, he went on to open more doors for himself and others than anyone could have imagined. He also touched more peoples hearts than he will ever know.
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. During this recent time of adversity he was baptized while surrounded by his family. The family appreciates that they have this time to grieve privately.
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 statement ends asking for anyone who wants to send flowers, to stay off FTD.com and instead donate to The Starkey Hearing Foundation and Best Buddies, which were Verne’s favorite charities.
Once thing I learned while reading Verne’s bio is that his family was Amish. But he didn’t have to work that black vest, white button down and Rev. Run hat for long. His family stopped being Amish when he was a kid. Verne, who came into the world on New Year’s Day, was born with achondroplasia dwarfism. When he finished high school, he went off to Hollywood and started out doing stunts. He was a stunt double in Baby’s Day Out, Dunston Checks and Mighty Joe Young. And he did more acting in Jingle All The Way, Men in Black, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas before he got the role that made him a STAH! Verne play Mini-Me in the second and third Austin Powers movies.
Verne was in a million more movies and TV shows (like the first Harry Potter movie), and later got into reality TV. He was on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK, Celebrity Wife Swap, and two seasons of the reality show jewel The Surreal Life (both with the late Chyna).
Verne started his own YouTube Channel a couple of years ago and regularly churned out videos. This is one from last month of him deciding what’s better: In-N-Out or Shake Shack? I know, it’s a question that doesn’t even need to be asked (don’t start with me, you Shake Shack messes with defective taste buds), but Verne proved his impeccable taste for gourmet deliciousness by choosing the correct answer.
Rest in peace, Verne.
Pic: Wenn.com