With his keen observational eye and ear, Canadian actor and writer Mike Myers created some of the most memorable comedic characters in TV and film history. From the time of his American breakout on “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 1975- ) in the early 1990s, Myers’ success lay in his fully-realized, heavily detailed characterizations and his spot-on mimicry. In an era of cynical insider comedy like “Seinfeld” (NBC, 1989-1998), Myers also set himself apart with affable, silliness that was refreshingly free from hip irony or mean-spirited intent. The outrageously funny site gags in the “Austin Powers” series of films never came across as an eye-rolling mockery of the 1960s British films that inspired them, the same way that the “Wayne’s World” series celebrated the suburban basement experience instead of snickering at it. If nothing else, Myers’ body of work introduced dozens of lasting catchphrases into the pop culture stream. “Way!”Michael Myers was born on May 25, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were both émigrés from Liverpool, England, where his mother Alice had been an aspiring actress who trained at the London Academy of Music and Art. His father Eric was a salesman who was also influential in his youngest son’s career path with his love of classic British comedians like Peter Sellers and Monty Python and an insistence that Myers only have funny friends over to the house to play. Myers was a natural performer, appearing on Canadian TV shows and in commercials as a kid, eerily brushing elbows with his future at “S.N.L.” with a commercial featuring Gilda Radner as his mother. Myers was completely focused on a career in comedy, and was accepted into the Second City touring company immediately after high school. After several years in the trenches of Second City’s sketch and improv comedy, Myers moved to England.
In his parents’ home country, Myers formed a comedic partnership with Neil Mullarkey. The pair wrote and performed sketch shows whose popularity spread from London pubs to UK-wide touring to several appearances at the renowned Edinburgh Festival. Myers also imported some of his Second City improv techniques and founded the Comedy Store Players, in addition to landing a regular role as a sidekick on a morning kid’s TV program. Despite his success, Myers missed home and returned to Toronto and the safe fold of the Second City Theater in 1986, where he began to unveil a new cast of characters, many of whom were based on his cultural experiences abroad. Two years later, he transferred down to Chicago and joined their Second City Theater, expanding his range by studying long-form improv with renowned comedy teacher Del Close at the Improv Olympic. Within a year, Myers caught the eye of comic Martin Short, who was so i