Sad news to report, Verne Troyer, known for playing Mini-Me along side Mike Meyers in the Austin Powers films, and for being one of the world’s shortest humans at 2′ 8″, has died.

Verne passed away today, according to a statement from his family. He was on life support since being taken to the hospital earlier this month after being treated for possible alcohol poisoning.

Verne’s family says,

“He was baptized while surrounded by his family.“

Troyer struggled with alcoholism for years and had been to rehab multiple times. Troyer was born with the genetic disorder known as achondroplasia dwarfism. Growing up on a farm in Michigan, Troyer has he was never treated differently by his parents than other siblings.

Verne began his Hollywood career in 1994 as a stunt double for Baby Bink in the film Baby’s Day Out, and after landing roles in Men in Black and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the he then hit it big in 1999, so to speak, as the iconic Mini-Me in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Troyer continued to work in Hollywood and also appeared on many popular reality shows over the years, like Celebrity Juice, Celebrity Wife Swap, and The Surreal Life.

Verne Troyer was 49.

(via TMZ)