Actor Verne Troyer, who was best known for playing Mini-Me in Austin Powers, has died aged 49, according to an official social media post.

A statement provided by Troyer's representatives said the actor died on Saturday.

"It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today," a post on his official Facebook page read.

The BBC reported that earlier this month, he was admitted to hospital in Los Angeles, although it was not immediately clear why.

Last year, he was hospitalised for alcohol addiction.

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"Verne was an extremely caring individual. He wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh. Anybody in need, he would help to any extent possible," the Facebook post said.

"Verne was also a fighter when it came to his own battles.

"Over the years he's struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much.

"Depression and suicide are very serious issues.

"You never know what kind of battle someone is going through inside.

"Be kind to one another."

Troyer became a celebrity and pop-culture phenomenon after starring alongside Mike Myers as Mini-Me, the tiny, hairless clone of villain Dr Evil in two of the three Austin Powers films.

"Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honour of working with him," Myers said in a statement.

"It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed."

Actress Marlee Matlin was among those who paid tribute on Twitter, posting a picture of him and saying he worked with her to raise money for free hearing aids for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

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Troyer also played the banker goblin Griphook in 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and appeared on dozens of TV shows including Boston Public, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and MADtv.

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Troyer was born in 1969 in Sturgis, Michigan with achondroplasia, a genetic condition that kept him at 2 feet 8 inches (81 centimetres) tall.

Troyer told The Guardian in 2015 he grew up Amish, although his parents left the religion when he was a child.

He said he almost died as a baby when his parents found him unresponsive in his crib, having an infection.

"As we were Amish, we only had a horse and buggy [carriage] to get to the hospital, but that wasn't going to be quick enough so we borrowed my aunt's car," he said.

"My parents were told there was nothing that could be done and Dad whisked me away to another hospital, where I was put in an oxygen tent, and thankfully I recovered."

Troyer was baptised surrounded by his family during his recent struggles, the statement said.

No place of death was given, but he lived in Los Angeles.

ABC/AP