At A Glance
Born: May 25, 1963
Where: Scarborough, ON
First Big Break:
In 1977, at the age of 14, Mike appeared in the short-lived CBC children’s
series called ‘Range Ryder and the Calgary Kid.’
Notable Achievements:
MTV Movie Awards
People’s Choice Award
Grammy Award
Blockbuster Entertaiment Award
American Comedy Award
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Mike Myers, one of the most multifaceted performers of his generation, has
brought an astonishing array of characters to life on both film and television.
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Myers began his professional career
the day he graduated from high school.
Mike took his final exams at nine o'clock in the morning, auditioned for
Toronto's famed Second City comedy
troupe at noon, and was hired at three in the afternoon. This ultimately
led to Myers' joining Chicago's Second City Troupe, an association that
would change his life forever. Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels'
discovery of Myers at Second City led to his debut as a featured performer
and writer on the show in 1989.
Myers was nominated for an Emmy for "Best Performance in a Comedy or
Variety Show" and won an Emmy for "Best Writing for a Comedy or
Variety Show" for or his groundbreaking work on Saturday Night Live.
Among the
characters that Myers made popular performing on SNL were Deiter, German
talk show host; Linda Richman in
"Coffee Talk"; the hyperactive-hypoglycemic Phillip; Lothar of
the Hill People; Simon the boy in the bathtub;
Ron Wood, and Mick Jagger.
Myers successfully brought his popular SNL character, Wayne Campbell, to
the big screen in Wayne's World, which he also wrote. The film broke box
office records and has grossed over $200 million to date. In 1993, he reprised
the role of Wayne Campbell in the hit sequel, Wayne's World 2, also written
by Myers.
Between Wayne's World releases, Myers starred as an eccentric Scottish father
and his first-generation Scottish-American son in the romantic comedy, So
I Married an Axe Murderer. In 1998 he appeared in Miramax's ensemble drama,
54, starring Ryan Phillipe, Salma Hayek, Neve Campbell and Sela Ward, in
which he earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of nightclub owner Steve
Rubell.
In 1997, Myers created, wrote, produced and starred in the smash hit Austin
Powers: International Man of Mystery. Austin Powers is a fashion photographer/swinger/spy
who was cryogenically frozen in the 60's and thawed in the 90's in order
to capture Dr. Evil, his diabolical nemesis (also played by Myers). Austin
Powers: International Man of Mystery has grossed more than $200 million
to date. The success of the first Austin Powers film created an enormous
following for the character and had a tremendous impact on our culture.
In 1999, Myers wrote, produced, and starred in Austin Powers: The Spy Who
Shagged Me in which he reprised the roles of Austin Powers and Dr. Evil.
This second installment of the series also introduced a hilarious new character,
an overweight Scottish double agent named Fat Bastard. In the first weekend
the film out-grossed what the original Austin Powers made in its entire
domestic theatrical run.
The Austin Powers phenomenon has garnered various awards, including several
MTV Movie Awards, People's Choice, Grammy, and Blockbuster Entertainment
awards for both films. Myers himself earned an American Comedy Award for
"Funniest Actor in a Movie" for his work in the film.
Myers is also known for lending his voice to the Dreamworks animated feature
Shrek, a modern-day fairy tale about a misunderstood ogre. The film won
the Academy Award in the "Best Animated Feature Film" category
and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. It was also nominated and awarded
the People's Choice award in 2002. Shrek grossed a total of $478 million
worldwide.
Myers most recently starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember ,the third installment
of the Austin Powers series. Produced for New Line Cinema Austin Powers
in Goldmember was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Michael McCullers,
and produced by John Lyons.
In total box office, the Austin Powers series has grossed nearly one billion
dollars, making it the highest grossing comedy franchise of all time. With
a worldwide gross nearing $300 million, Austin Powers in Goldmember has
out-grossed its two predecessors, making it the only third installment of
a comedy to ever do so. The success of the Austin Powers series and Shrek
makes Myers the only actor to ever have three $200 million-grossing releases
in a row.
Most recently, Myers completed principal photography for Dr. Seuss' The
Cat in the Hat , a Universal Pictures/Dreamworks/Imagine Films co-production
set for release on November 21, 2003. Myers stars as the mischievous feline
in a striped stove-piped hat. The film also stars Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston
and Dakota Fanning.
Myers is also scheduled to rejoin Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz in Shrek
2, slated for release in late 2004.
Myers received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California in July
2002. He will be honored this year with the 'Jack Benny Award' by the student
body of the University of California at Los Angeles; he will receive the
2003 AFI Star Award at the HBO-sponsored U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen,
and the will be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame this spring.
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Inductees
