'Goldmember:' Homage To Dad

Yeah Baby! Mike Myers' shagadelic super spy, Austin Powers, is back and groovier than ever with "Austin Powers In Goldmember". In addition to the new character, Goldmember, Myers also brings back Fat Bastard and Dr. Evil, who is once again trying to take over the world.

Joining the cast are Sir Michael Caine as Austin's father Nigel Powers, Beyoncé Knowles of Destiny's Child as Foxxy Cleopatra and Fred Savage as Number Three a.k.a., The Mole. Returning are "Austin Powers" veterans Michael York (Basil Exposition), Robert Wagner (Number Two), Seth Green (Scott Evil), Mindy Sterling (Frau Farbissina) and Verne J. Troyer (Mini Me). The film also introduces newcomers Aaron Himelstein and Josh Zuckerman.

In writing the story, Myers adhered to his overall belief in comedy as the most palatable form of communication. "Broad comedy is as legitimate and valid a delivery system for expansive, spiritual ideas as any other art form," he says. "It's the Flinstones vitamins approach to those ideas; we should eat Dino and Barney and not know it's good for us."

Fast Facts About Mike Myers:

• Born in Ontario, Canada, May 25, 1963.
• Began acting in commercials as a child; appeared in a spot with Gilda Radner c. 1974. Had first dramatic role in a Canadian TV-movie with Donald Sutherland.
• In 1981, was hired by Toronto's Second City Comedy Troupe the day of his final high school exam. Moved to England and performed twice at the Edinburgh Festival
• Joined the SCTV Company in Chicago where he was spotted by "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels.
• In 1989, joined NBC's "Satruday Night Live" as a writer and recurring cast member, later becoming a regular.
• In 1992, made his feature debut as an actor and co-writer, "Wayne's World", based on characters created for "SNL." The following year, starred in a dual role as a commitment-shy beat poet and his batty Scottish father in the comedy "So I Married an Axe Murderer." And reprised role of Wayne Campbell in "Wayne's World 2." In 1995, Myers left cast of "SNL" and took a two-year career break.
• In 1997, he made successful return as writer and star of "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery", a spoof of 1960s spy films; also played the villain Dr. Evil in addition to the title role. The film made a modest $50 million at the box office, but enjoyed a second life as a video favorite.
• In 1999: He reprised roles in "Austin Powers II: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and added a third character, the henchman Fat Bastard. The film took in over $50 million in it's opening weekend, becoming the first film sequel to have an opening weekend bigger than the entire gross of the earlier film.
• In 2000, he announced plans to star in film based on his "SNL" character Dieter, the Germanic host of a program called "Sprockets." He left the project after expressing displeasure with final script; Universal sued for breach of contract; Myers counter-sued; matter settled out-of-court
• In 2001, he lent his voice to the title character of the animated feature "Shrek", replacing the late Chris Farley. He also had title role in "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat", to be filmed later this year.
• Myers has been married to Robin Ruzan since 1993. His mother-in-law is Linda Richman. Myers based his "SNL" character Linda Richman on his mother-in-law.

Quote: "Austin Powers was born out of trying to celebrate my father's life. You can only write stuff that is in your heart; I don't think there's a formula, and I know that it's foolish to look for one. My father's favorites were mine: Peter Sellers, Monty Python, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, all of that stuff. My dad was a guy who loved to be silly; he had a highly prized sense of humor. When I would bring friends home to play table hockey in the basement, if my dad didn't think they were funny, he wouldn't let them in the house. 'They can't come around,' he'd say. 'They're not bloody funny!" --Myers quoted in BIOGRAPHY, June 1999.