Profile Text
Troyer in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Verne J. Troyer
Date of Birth: January 1, 1969
Place of Birth: Sturgis, Michigan, U.S.
Date of Death: April 21, 2018
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: German [including some Swiss-German]
Verne Troyer was an American actor, stunt performer, and comedian. He starred as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers franchise, and appeared in films including Pinocchio’s Revenge and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . He was 2′8″.
Verne was the son of Susan, a factory worker, and Reuben Troyer, a repair technician. While both sides of his family have lived in the United States since the 1700s, he was still of entirely German descent, including some Swiss-German. His family has an Amish background. Verne was born with cartilage–hair hypoplasia.
He was raised partly in Centreville, Michigan.
Verne’s patrilineal line can be traced to Nicholas Troyer, who was born, c. 1550, in Switzerland. The Troyer family lived in Trub Valley, Emmental, Canton of Bern, Switzerland.
Verne’s paternal grandfather was Reuben J. Troyer (the son of John Harrison Troyer and Susanna Yutzy). Reuben was born in Oklahoma. John was the son of Jeremiah J. Troyer and Veronica/Fannie J. Bontrager. Susanna was the daughter of Jonas R. Yutzy and Mary Miller.
Verne’s paternal grandmother was Mattie M. Miller (the daughter of Moses P. Miller and Susanna/Susanne C. Miller). Mattie was born in Kansas. Moses was the son of Christian C. Miller and Polly Plank. Susanna was the daughter of Christian F. Miller and Magdalena/Mattie J. Hochstedler/Hostetler.
Verne’s maternal grandfather was Verne/Vern Edward Yoder (the son of Joseph J./G. Yoder and Susanna B. “Susie” Hochstetler). Verne’s grandfather Verne was born in Michigan. Joseph was the son of Joseph S. Yoder and Mary Borkholder/Burkholder. Susanna was the daughter of Benjamin E. Hochstedler/Hochstetler and Mary Elizabeth Kline.
Verne’s maternal grandmother was Miriam/Merriam J./S. Bontrager (the daughter of John M. Bontrager and Elizabeth B. Mullet). Miriam was born in Kansas. John was the son of Manasses E. Bontrager and Veronica/Fannie Miller. Elizabeth was the daughter of Benedict B. Mullet and Miriam S. Hershberger.
Sources: Genealogy of Verne Troyer – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of Verne’s paternal grandmother, Mattie M. (Miller) Troyer – http://www.goshennews.com
Obituary of Verne’s maternal grandmother, Miriam/Merriam J./S. (Bontrager) Yoder – http://boards.ancestry.com