10 Small Things You Didn’t Know About Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer5

By Rebecca Leib, Dec 28, 2010 in Pop Culture

10 Small Things You Didn’t Know About Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer

Verne Troyer was born on January 1st, 1969. Like his birthday, Troyer’s life was bound to be unusual and perhaps even… remarkable. Young Verne was born in Sturgis, Michigan to Reuben Troyer, a repair technician, and Susan Troyer, a factory worker. As a result of cartilage-hair hypoplasmia dwarfism, Troyer grew to be only 2 feet 8 inches tall.

Troyer always had a passion for acting, though he started in Hollywood as a stuntman in movies like Baby’s Day Out, Dunston Checks In and Jingle All the Way. Verne’s first on-screen film role was in the film Pinnoccio’s Revenge, playing Pinnoccio’s miniature double. After this, Troyer made appearances in Men in Black, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – but most people know him from his roll in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, as “Mini-Me.”

Troyer’s life wasn’t all an uphill ride, however. On February 22nd, 2004, Troyer reportedly married Playboy model Genevieve Gallen. Sadly, their widely publicized courtship and marriage came to an abrupt end after an annulment the next day. After the fact, Troyer and his attorney denied that Genevieve and Verne had formal wedding plans, saying that Gallen had fabricated the story for her own benefit.

And then, there was that pesky sex tape scandal in June of 2008! A private home videotape was leaked, showing Troyer and his former live-in girlfriend Ranae Shrider having sex on Easter Weekend at Raffles L’Ermitage Hotel (Easter Weekend?). Later, it was found that Shrider herself leaked the tape to TMZ. Classy! Kevin Blatt, the man who capitalized on the Paris Hilton sex tape, tried to sell the Troyer tape, but Verne’s lawyers promptly sued.

Troyer’s life definitely isn’t your run of the mill story in any way – so much so that if he showed up at your front door as an Undercover Parking Ticket Agent, a role he played in a comedy short by the same name, you probably wouldn’t be so surprised. But here are a few small facts about him that you may be surprised to know.

Undercover Parking Ticket Agent

1. Verne Loves College Football

Just shy of three footballs high, Troyer loves a good college football game. As a Michigan native, Troyer digs the Michigan Wolverines. If they’re not playing, he’ll watch whatever team is playing Notre Dame. Wow.

2. Verne Does His Own Stunts

This may make sense, because he used to be a professional stuntman, but that isn’t the reason why Verne prefers to do his own stunt work. In actuality, there aren’t any stuntmen who are dwarves, or who are short enough to believably be Troyer’s stuntman.

3. Vern was a High School Prom King

Believe it or not, Troyer and his date were both voted Prom King and Queen at his graduation in 1987. I wonder what they danced to as King and Queen? Tiny Dancer? Sorry, that was in bad taste. But in general, so is prom.

4. World-Class Shorty

At 2 feet, 8 inches, Mr. Troyer is one of the smallest people in the world and a pop culture icon – featured on countless pieces of merchandise as “Mini-Me.” However, THE smallest, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, is Nepali-born Khagendra Thapa Magar, who stands at 2 feet, 2 ½ inches. He just turned eighteen, so he’ll probably keep that record for a while.

5. 2nd Shortest Film Star!

Verne WAS in the Guinness Book for being the world’s smallest actor. Unfortunately, that title was taken from him recently – although Troyer arguably still remains the most well-known shorty. The title of shortest living actor goes to 35-year-old Ajay Kumar from India at 2 feet, 6 inches tall.

6. Sometimes He Pees in Things.

When Verne Troyer gets particularly wasted, as some men do, he likes to relieve himself. As seen on VH1’s The Surreal Life, Troyer has a penchant for late-night peeing in things that are not a toilet or a urinal. So if you ever have Mr. Troyer over for dinner, don’t let him drink unless you can risk a soiled carpet, houseplant, vase, or pet.

7. He’s an Auteur.

Though his character is called Mini-Me, Verne prefers to be known as Mini-V. Interested in quality film and filmmaking, Troyer has proposed an Austin Powers spin-off movie starring (of course) himself, where “”Mini-Me goes to Vegas and shags a bunch of showgirls.” Sounds Oscar-worthy and oddly compelling.

8. He’s an Egomaniac.

Ex-girlfriend Ranae Shrider described Verne as a narcissist whose absolute favorite thing to do is watch his own movies. She has been quoted saying, “Without a doubt, there’s nothing Verne enjoys more than seeing himself on screen. Watching his own films is his favorite hobby. So it was no surprise when he asked if he could film us having sex.” Well, you could have said no, Ranae!

9. He loves a good rager.

Verne Troyer recently celebrated his 40th birthday but not with a mug of cocoa and a good book. This high-rolling, low-to-the-ground star enjoyed himself at a birthday bash in London’s Mahiki. Quiet drinks with friends? I don’t think so. Mr. Troyer was seen riding his miniature scooter around the dance floor, chugging $200 cocktails and trying to bag Kelly Osbourne. When he was all tuckered out, he left on the shoulders of a security guard. At least he didn’t pee on him!

10. He’s good in the sack.

A quote from Verne’s day-long ex-wife Genevieve Gallen. “I have dated a few celebrity men, and Verne was the most amazing man to be held by. My biggest problem was other girls would come and just throw themselves at him, and I would get pushed away.”

Other intimate facts from the ex-Mrs. Mini-Me:

• On sex marathons: “We could have sex up to 10 times in a single day. We’d do it for 45 minutes, and he would just keep on going as I had orgasm after orgasm.”
• On sexual positions: “We had to be creative, but because of my yoga experience, I could get into the right positions to make it work.”
• On role playing: “I would dress up in my sexiest lingerie every day and try all sorts of role-play games. Sometimes I dressed as a prostitute, other times a cheerleader—and even a schoolgirl.”
• On Troyer’s penis: “Verne’s body is proportional all over, so he was smaller than I expected.

Rebecca Leib is an artist, writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. She has a BFA in Fine Arts and a MFA in Writing. When she’s not writing fascinating top ten lists, she is performing improv, making art, writing about pop culture, writing about art, riding horses, writing about literature, writing fiction, writing, writing, writing. Check her out at RebeccaLeib.com. Thanks for reading!