Summary
Sir Austin Danger Powers KBE[1] is a fictional character from the Austin Powers series of films, and is created and portrayed by Mike Myers. He is the protagonist of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).[2]
| Austin Powers | |
|---|---|
| Austin Powers character | |
 | |
| First appearance | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) |
| Last appearance | Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) |
| Created by | Mike Myers |
| Based on | James Bond |
| Portrayed by | Mike Myers Aaron Himelstein (young) Tom Cruise (in Austinpussy) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Austin Danger Powers |
| Alias | Richie Cunningham |
| Occupation | Spy for the Ministry of Defence |
| Family | Nigel Powers (father) Douglas Powers (twin-brother) |
| Spouse | Vanessa Kensington (deceased) |
| Significant others | Felicity Shagwell Foxxy Cleopatra |
| Relatives | Mini-Me (nephew) Scott Evil (nephew) Frau Farbissina (sister-in-law) Helga Powers (grandmother) Kyle (great-nephew) |
| Nationality | British |
He is a womanizing, hard partying British spy embodying the Swinging London psyche and hippie culture of the 1960s who, with his nemesis Dr. Evil, was frozen in a cryonics experiment. The series' humor follows his attempts to adjust to the modern world as he continues to try to save it from terrorism.
Personality edit
Austin Powers was a character seen as a parody of James Bond, and being influenced by Evelyn Tremble (played by Peter Sellers) in the spoof James Bond 1967 movie Casino Royale.[3] Other notable influences were Harry Palmer (played by Michael Caine who would go on to play Austin's father, Nigel, in Goldmember), especially his thick horn-rimmed glasses,[4] and the flamboyant dress sense of Jason King (played by Peter Wyngarde).[5]
The character of Austin Powers represents an archetype of 1960s Swinging London, with his advocacy for free love, his use of obscure expressions and his clothing style (including crushed velvet suits and Beatle boots).[6]
Development edit
Myers, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs formed the faux British 1960s band Ming Tea after Myers's Saturday Night Live stint in the early 1990s.[7][8] The band members all performed under pseudonyms with 1960s' personas. Myers adopted the pseudonym and character of Austin Powers.
This group made a number of live club and television performances in character. Myers's then wife, Robin Ruzan, encouraged him to write a film based on Austin Powers.[8][9] Obituaries of Simon Dee (1935–2009), the radio and BBC television presenter, stated that his "Sixties grooviness" made him the inspiration for the character.[10][11]
Heavily influenced by British pop culture growing up, Mike Myers has claimed that his British-born father was the inspiration behind Austin Powers.[12]
Other media edit
- HBO purchased the rights to produce a cartoon series based on the Austin Powers films in May 1999. Despite announcing plans for a thirteen-episode season, HBO ultimately shelved the project.[13][14][15]
- Austin Powers has been used for advertising numerous products and endorsements, such as Pepsi Cola.[16]
- He also appears in the music videos for Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger", Beyoncé's "Work It Out" and Britney Spears' "Boys".
- The video games he appears in are Austin Powers Pinball, Austin Powers: Welcome to My Underground Lair!, Austin Powers: Oh, Behave!, and Austin Powers Operation: Trivia.
- Powers is feature in an episode of the web show Epic Rap Battles of History, where he is pitted against James Bond. He is performed by the series co-creator Nice Peter.
Filmography edit
- International Man of Mystery (1997)
- The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
- Goldmember (2002)
In popular culture edit
In November 2010, he was voted #23 in Entertainment Weekly's list "The 100 Greatest Characters of The Last 20 Years."[17]
See also edit
- Outline of James Bond
- Our Man Flint, another James Bond parody film; Austin calls its sequel, In Like Flint, his favorite movie
- Matt Helm as played in 1960s' films by Dean Martin shares many qualities with Austin Powers, including his cover profession as a fashion photographer.
References edit
- ^ Delbyck, Cole (2017-05-02). "10 'Austin Powers' Moments That Are Totally Shagadelic 20 Years Later". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Big marketers are betting on 'Austin Powers' to endear them to young people". The New York Times. 1999-06-14. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Myers is funny, but he's no Peter Sellers". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). 28 November 2003. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Michael Caine: Austin Powers in Goldmember". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Obituary - Peter Wyngarde, flamboyant actor known for Jason King and Flash Gordon". The Herald. Glasgow. July 7, 2019.
- ^ John Storey (2010). "Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification". p. 60. Edinburgh University Press
- ^ Digital Hit (1997–2012). "Mike Myers". Digital Hit. Digital Hit Entertainment/ Multiplex Theatre Properties Inc. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b Cherie D. Abbey; Omnigraphics; Kevin Hillstrom (2004). Biography Today Performing Artists. Omnigraphics. p. 101. ISBN 078080709X.
- ^ "This Sort Of Thing Is His Bag, Baby". Newsweek. May 18, 1997.
- ^ "TV chat show star Simon Dee dies". BBC. 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Dee day for the real Austin Powers". The Age. Melbourne. 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Austin Powers has The Force". BBC. 1999-06-14. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ Kaplan, Don (1999-05-04). "YEAH, BABY! HBO SINKS TEETH INTO 'AUSTIN POWERS' CARTOON". The New York Post. Retrieved 2010-11-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Seiler, Andy (1999-06-21). "The spy who won't go away HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-11-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (1999-06-21). "Cinema: Austin's Power". Time. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ "Freebies Power Austin's Promotional Mojo". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
