Mike Myers looks unrecognizable in first public appearance in a year

Mike Myers stunned fans with a new look when he returned to the spotlight after a year away from the public eye.

Thanks to his now-iconic roles in movies like Austin Powers, Wayne's World and Shrek, we've got used to associating Myers with one character or another over the years.

But while most of us aren't imagining the actor himself as a giant ogre who hates people coming into his swamp - at least, I hope you're not - you'd probably picture him as having brown hair and a fringe, with no facial hair in sight.

We last saw Myers on the big screen in the 2022 movie Amsterdam, and later that same year in Netflix's The Pentaverate.

However, he's largely been out of the public eye in recent months, so it came as a surprise to many when he appeared at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala in Hollywood on Saturday (27 April).

Myers posed for the cameras on the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre, though he disguised himself as he walked out on stage by wearing a black cloak and an ominous white mask which hid his entire face.

Hey, Mike Myers 👍 #AFILife pic.twitter.com/mwBulhXvYL

— AFI (@AmericanFilm) April 28, 2024

The actor then pulled off the mask to reveal himself to the audience before making a speech.

In stark contrast to the usual thick, brown hair we typically associate with Myers, his appearance at the AFI gala revealed that the actor now has a short, white buzzcut, accompanied by white stubble.

Viewers were completely taken aback by the actor's new look, with many taking to X to share their shock.

"I did not recognize him," one shocked fan commented, as another said the actor had undergone a 'glow up'.

Other fans argued the actor, who is now 60 years old, has simply aged since we saw him take on roles like Austin Powers in the '90s. Which, considering that was now 30 years ago, is a pretty fair argument.

In an interview with Metrograph, Myers has previously recalled that while he was 'very immersed' in his career in his 20s, he moved his focus to family later in life.

Speaking in 2023, he said: "I still am working on many things, but I have three kids under the age of 11, and the last 16 years has been me just learning to... That’s been the happiest time of my life, actually, prioritizing trying to get healthy and taking care of these kids. Still making stuff, but with the correct priority."