Editing Austin Powers (character)

{{Short description|Fictional character}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Austin Powers
| series = [[Austin Powers]]
| image = Mike-Myers-Austin-Powers-1-.jpg
| first = ''[[Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery]]'' (1997)
| last = ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]'' (2002)
| creator = [[Mike Myers]]
| based_on = [[James Bond]]
| portrayer = [[Mike Myers]]<br>[[Aaron Himelstein]] (young)<br>[[Tom Cruise]] (in ''[[Austinpussy]]'')
| alias = Richie Cunningham
| occupation = [[Espionage|Spy]] for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| significant_others = [[Felicity Shagwell]]<br>[[Foxxy Cleopatra]]
| spouse = [[Vanessa Kensington]] (deceased)
| family = Nigel Powers (father)<br />[[Dr. Evil|Douglas Powers]] (twin-brother)
| relatives = [[Mini-Me]] (nephew)<br />[[Scott Evil]] (nephew)<br />[[Frau Farbissina]] (sister-in-law)<br />Helga Powers (grandmother)<br />Kyle (great-nephew)
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| full_name = Austin Danger Powers
}}
'''Sir Austin Danger Powers''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KBE}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Delbyck|first=Cole|date=2017-05-02|title=10 'Austin Powers' Moments That Are Totally Shagadelic 20 Years Later|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-austin-powers-moments-that-are-still-shagadelic-20-years-later_n_5907f542e4b05c397681d391|access-date=2020-12-19|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> 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), ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]'' (1999) and ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]'' (2002).<ref>{{cite news|title= THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Big marketers are betting on 'Austin Powers' to endear them to young people.|work= The New York Times|date=1999-06-14|url= http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50814F7395C0C778DDDAF0894D1494D81|access-date=2010-11-05}}</ref>

He is a [[womanizing]], hard partying [[United Kingdom|British]] [[spy]] embodying the [[Swinging London]] [[Psychedelia|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==
[[File:Austin Shaguar.jpg|thumb|left|Powers' "Shaguar" ([[Jaguar E-Type]])]]
Austin Powers was a character seen as a homage of the 1960s/1970s Bondmania, being influenced by [[James Bond]], and other characters as [[Evelyn Tremble]] (played by [[Peter Sellers]]) in the spoof James Bond 1967 movie ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7118916.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610220713/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7118916.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2014|title=Myers is funny, but he's no Peter Sellers|publisher=[[Deseret News]] (Salt Lake City)|date=28 November 2003 |access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> 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]],<ref name="Powers">{{cite news |title=Michael Caine: Austin Powers in Goldmember |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/07/17/michael_caine_austin_powers_goldmember_interview.shtml |access-date=20 October 2019 |agency=BBC |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020102817/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/07/17/michael_caine_austin_powers_goldmember_interview.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and the flamboyant dress sense of [[Jason King (TV series)|Jason King]] (played by [[Peter Wyngarde]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary - Peter Wyngarde, flamboyant actor known for Jason King and Flash Gordon|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15865081.Obituary___Peter_Wyngarde__flamboyant_actor_known_for_Jason_King_and_Flash_Gordon/?ref=rss|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|location=Glasgow|date=July 7, 2019|archive-date=January 20, 2018|access-date=July 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065814/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15865081.Obituary___Peter_Wyngarde__flamboyant_actor_known_for_Jason_King_and_Flash_Gordon/?ref=rss|url-status=live}}</ref>

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]]).<ref>John Storey (2010). "Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification". p. 60. Edinburgh University Press</ref>

==Development==
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Myers|url=http://www.digitalhit.com/cr/mikemyers/|work=Digital Hit|publisher=Digital Hit Entertainment/ Multiplex Theatre Properties Inc.|access-date=29 July 2012|author=Digital Hit|year=1997–2012|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628154424/https://www.digitalhit.com/cr/mikemyers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BiographyToday">{{cite book|title=Biography Today Performing Artists|page=101|author=Cherie D. Abbey|author2=Omnigraphics|author3=Kevin Hillstrom|publisher=Omnigraphics|year=2004|isbn=078080709X}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BiographyToday"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/sort-thing-his-bag-baby-172878|title=This Sort Of Thing Is His Bag, Baby|magazine=Newsweek|date=May 18, 1997|access-date=March 9, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502085651/http://www.newsweek.com/sort-thing-his-bag-baby-172878|url-status=live}}</ref> Obituaries of [[Simon Dee]] (1935–2009), the radio and BBC television presenter, stated that his "Sixties grooviness" made him the inspiration for the character.<ref>{{cite news|title= TV chat show star Simon Dee dies|work= BBC|date=2009-08-30|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8229429.stm|access-date=2010-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Dee day for the real Austin Powers|work= The Age|date=2009-08-31|url= http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/people/dee-day-for-the-real-austin-powers-20090831-f4y3.html|access-date=2010-11-05|location=Melbourne}}</ref>

Heavily influenced by British pop culture growing up, [[Mike Myers (actor)|Mike Myers]] has claimed that his British-born father was the inspiration behind Austin Powers.<ref>{{cite news|title= Austin Powers has The Force|work= BBC|date=1999-06-14|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/368451.stm|access-date=2010-11-06}}</ref>

==Other media==
* [[HBO]] purchased the rights to produce an animated series based on the ''Austin Powers'' films in May 1999. Despite announcing plans for a thirteen-episode season, HBO ultimately shelved the project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Don |date=1999-05-04 |title=Yeah, Baby! HBO Sinks Teeth Into 'Austin Powers' Cartoon |url=https://nypost.com/1999/05/04/yeah-baby-hbo-sinks-teeth-into-austin-powers-cartoon/ |access-date=2010-11-05 |work=The New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seller |first=Andy |date=1999-06-21 |title=The spy who won't go away; HBO will animate 'Austin Powers,' and a third movie is expected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-the-spy-who-wont-go-away/169333457/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |work=USA Today |page=3D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title= Cinema: Austin's Power|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=1999-06-21|url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991301-2,00.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121106122139/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991301-2,00.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= November 6, 2012|access-date=2010-12-04|first=Jeffrey|last=Ressner}}</ref>
* Austin Powers has been used for advertising numerous products and endorsements, such as [[Pepsi Cola]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Freebies Power Austin's Promotional Mojo|work= Orlando Sentinel|url= https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1999/06/20/freebies-power-austins-promotional-mojo/|access-date= 2010-11-05|archive-date= 2012-07-10|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120710174119/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-06-20/business/9906180968_1_spy-who-shagged-austin-powers-new-line-cinema|url-status= live}}</ref>
* He also appears in the [[music video]]s for [[Madonna]]'s "[[Beautiful Stranger]]", [[Beyoncé]]'s "[[Work It Out (Beyoncé song)|Work It Out]]" and [[Britney Spears]]' "[[Boys (Britney Spears song)|Boys]]".
* Powers appears in all video games based on the film series, including ''[[Austin Powers Pinball]]'', ''[[Austin Powers: Welcome to My Underground Lair!]]'', ''[[Austin Powers: Oh, Behave!]]'', and ''[[Austin Powers Operation: Trivia]]''.
* Powers is featured 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]].

==In popular culture==
The May 2010 game ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'' features an achievement called Austin Overpowered, requiring players to clear out hideouts in the New Austin region of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/red-dead-redemption-ps4-trophies/|title=Red Dead Redemption PS4 Trophies Revealed|last=Llado|first=Miguel Luis|date=August 18, 2023|access-date=September 10, 2024|publisher=GameRant}}</ref>

In November 2010, he was voted #23 in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s list "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years."<ref>{{cite magazine|title= The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years|magazine= Entertainment Weekly|url= http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/|access-date= 2010-11-05|archive-date= September 21, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160921234113/http://www.ew.com/article/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list|url-status= live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[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==
{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote|Austin Powers (film series)|Austin Powers}}

{{Austin Powers movies}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powers, Austin}}
[[Category:Austin Powers characters]]
[[Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters]]
[[Category:Fictional British spies]]
[[Category:Fictional people from London]]
[[Category:Fictional knights]]
[[Category:Fictional twins]]
[[Category:Fictional judoka]]
[[Category:Fictional writers]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who break the fourth wall]]
[[Category:Fictional gunfighters in films]]
[[Category:Fictional spies in films]]
[[Category:Fictional photographers]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1997]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:Time travelers]]