Verne Troyer: What's 'Mini-Me' Up to These Days?

Verne Troyer, the 2-foot-8-inch actor who became famous starring as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series of comedies, popped up at No. 39 on Google Hot Searches this morning after a stint last night as guest host on WWE's Raw Baltimore telecast.

Troyer was there to promote Terry Gilliam's 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,' in which the diminutive actor plays Percy, a member of 1,000-year-old Doctor Parnassus' troupe of traveling performers who provide members of the audience with the irresistible opportunity to go into their imagination and choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. The film stars Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer,, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp and Jude Law.

Though Troyer hasn't had a major film role since his Austin Powers outings, he certainly hasn't left the media limelight. Last year he became embroiled in a law suit over a leaked sex tape with former girlfriend, model Ranae Shrider. Earlier this year he appeared in the celebrity version of Big Brother in the U.K, and supposedly began work on a "tell-all" autobiography.

In October Troyer was hit with a restraining order obtained by ex-girlfriend Yvette Monet, claiming he harassed her with abusive phone calls and text messages, charges Troyer vehemently denied. Following that, according to a report at TMZ, the State of California hit him with a bill for $10,869.36 in unpaid taxes for 2005 and 2008. And just today, TMZ reported that Troyer filed a response in L.A. County Superior Court to Monet's order, saying "at no time did I ever threaten Ms. Monet or even hint to her that I would harm her in any way."

Between the sex tape and legal woes, it seems there's little left to the imagination in Troyer's life. Let's hope that his dramatic role in 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,' which opens Christmas day, changes all that.