Myers, Mike (1963– )

Canadian comedian, actor, and writer. Myers was one of the most popular – and certainly one of the most quoted – writer-actors of the 1990s. Wayne's World (1992), in which he played a geeky cable television presenter, launched Myers to international stardom. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), which Myers also produced, spoofed the James Bond formula and, like Wayne's World, playfully broke down the barrier between film and audience. The Academy Award-winning animated comedy Shrek, in which Myers voices the main character, was a critical and commercial success.

His films delight in quoting from other works and performers, urge audience participation, and do away with notions of ‘suspending disbelief’. He scored more success with sequels to Wayne's World in 1993, Austin Powers in 1999 and 2002, and Shrek in 2003 and 2007. Myers has also had some success as a serious performer, playing real-life disco kingpin Steve Rubell in 54 (1998). His other film credits include So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) and The Cat in the Hat (2003).

He was born in Scarborough, Ontario. After leaving school he joined Toronto's Second City Comedy group. As a child actor, Myers appeared in the television shows King of Kensington and The Littlest Hobo in the mid-1970s. As a comedian, he featured in the skit show Mullarkey & Myers 1983–86, before landing a regular slot on the hit US show Saturday Night Live 1989–94.