Michael Myers is an actor, comedian,
screenwriter, and motion picture producer. Both his
parents are from Liverpool, England, and Myers carries
a UK passport: he has stated that he considers himself
to be British although he is also very vocal about
being a proud Canadian.
One of Myers' first acting jobs was with Saturday
Night Live star Gilda Radner in a TV commercial when
he was nine years old. Myers graduated from High School
in 1982 and was immediately accepted into Toronto's
Second City improvisational comedy troupe.
Myers became well-known as a member of the cast of
NBC's Saturday Night Live television program from 1989
to 1995, where he performed characters like Dieter,
Linda Richman, and Wayne Campbell from Wayne's World.
In 1992, Myers and comedian Dana Carvey took Wayne's
World to the silver screen in a full-length motion
picture based on the SNL skit. It ended up being one
of the most successful movies of the year.
In 1997, Myers introduced the world to Austin Powers,
with the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
Myers played the title role, and several other characters
in the film.
In 1999, Myers played his first non-comedic role
in the film 54 where he played the proprietor of Studio
54, a famous New York discotheque of the 1970s. The
film was moderately successful; Myers' performance
was widely praised.
In June of 2000, Myers was sued by Universal Pictures
for $3.8 million for backing out of a contract to play
Dieter, the SNL character, in a feature film. Myers
said he refused to honor the $20 million contract because
he didn't want to cheat moviegoers with an unacceptable
script. Myers countersued, and a settlement was reached
after several months where Myers agreed to make another
film with Universal. That film would be The Cat in
the Hat, released November 2003 and starring Myers
as the title character.
Myers is a member of the band Ming Tea with former
Bangles guitarist and vocalist Susanna Hoffs, which
performed the songs BBC and Daddy Wasn't There for
the Austin Powers movies.
In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he
was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow
comedians and comedy insiders. |
