Born: July 11, 1953
Age: 71
Birthplace: Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Mindy Lee Sterling (born July 11, 1953) is an American actress and voice actress. Among her most prominent roles are Frau Farbissina in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Principal Susan Skidmore on the Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm, Ms. Endive in Chowder, Lin Beifong on The Legend of Korra, and Miss Briggs on iCarly.
Sterling was born in Paterson, New Jersey. Her father is actor and comedian Dick Sterling. Her mother was a dancer.
Around 1973, Sterling landed a recurring role on the syndicated children's series Dusty's Treehouse. She later joined the renowned L.A.-based comedy troupe The Groundlings.
Despite having starred in numerous films in the 1980s and 1990s, it was her character Frau Farbissina, the diminutive and domineering Germanic cohort of Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, that brought Sterling high praise for her work in films. In 1999, following the success of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Sterling appeared in Drop Dead Gorgeous (also 1999), and later reprised the character in Austin Powers in Goldmember. In 2000, she played one of the townspeople in the live-action adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. In 2012, she appeared in a book trailer for a parody of "The Hunger Games" entitled "The Hunger Pains".
From 1990-91, she was one of the comedians in the satirical show On the Television. Sterling plays Christian Slater's secretary Arlene Scott in the show My Own Worst Enemy. She also played Judge Foodie on the Disney show That's So Raven and a volleyball coach on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She appeared as the wedding planner on the Friends episode "The One with Barry and Mindy's Wedding" in 1996, and in 2004, as the casting director on the episode "Joey and the Big Audition" of Joey. Sterling has achieved success in teen sitcoms, playing Ms. Francine Briggs on iCarly, and in A.N.T. Farm as Principal Susan Skidmore. On April 25, 2013 before the finale of the second season of A.N.T. Farm, Sterling announced she would not be appearing on the show's third season due to family obligations. She announced in June 2012 that she may return in the fourth season, with guest appearances in season three. In 2000, Sterling appeared as a celebrity guest on Hollywood Squares. She returned to the show in 2002. Between 2002 and 2004, Sterling made guest appearances on the Donny Osmond version of the game show Pyramid. In 2010, she had a recurring role as bitter neighbour Mitzi Kinsky in Desperate Housewives. In 2013, she currently stars as Janice Nugent in the TV comedy Legit.
From 2007-2010, Sterling played Ms. Endive, the main antagonist to Mung Daal in Chowder. She also currently voices the character Lin Beifong, the second Police Chief of Republic City and daughter of original chief Toph Beifong in The Legend of Korra. Her many other voice-over credits include guest roles on The Wild Thornberrys, Invader Zim, Ice Age: The Meltdown, American Dragon: Jake Long, Higglytown Heroes, Robot Chicken, Mars Needs Moms, The Looney Tunes Show, Winx Club, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.
Sterling was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in 1998. After a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and tamoxifen, she has remained cancer-free.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | The Devil and Max Devlin | Fan #1 at Grammy's | |
1986 | House | Woman in Bookstore | |
1987 | The Brave Little Toaster | Rob's mother/Two-Faced Sewing Machine | (credited as Mindy Stern) |
1990 | Working Tra$h | Mary | TV film |
1994 | The Favor | Debbie Rollins | |
1995 | The Crazysitter | ||
Beyond Family | Mom Zumwalt | TV film | |
Man of the Year | Cindee | ||
1997 | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | Frau Farbissina | |
1999 | Idle Hands | Lady Bowler | |
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Frau Farbissina | ||
Drop Dead Gorgeous | Iris Clark | ||
2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Clarnella | |
2001 | Barstow 2008 | Mona Finch | |
The Sky Is Falling | Doris | ||
Totally Blonde | Ramona | ||
2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Frau Farbissina | |
2004 | EuroTrip | Old Woman in Confessional | Uncredited |
30 Days Until I'm Famous | Lupe Horowitz | TV film | |
2005 | The 12 Dogs of Christmas | Mrs. Walsh | |
2006 | The Enigma with a Stigma | Patricia Riley | |
Domestic Import | Bernice Kimmelman | ||
Haversham Hall | Headmistress Moira Grodnickel | TV film | |
Ice Age: The Meltdown | Female Ox | Voice | |
Getting Played | Lydia | ||
Pro-Choice | Danny's Mother | Short film | |
The Amazing Screw-On Head | Aggie and Geraldine | Voice | |
2007 | Frank | Monica Loveless | |
Reno 911: Miami | Spoder's Mom | ||
The Captain | Nedra | Short film | |
Surf's Up | Doris Flipkitz | Voice, deleted scenes | |
Shredderman Rules | Dr. Sheila Voss | TV film | |
Goldfish | Teacher | Short film | |
Beyond the Pale | Mrs. Plotzkin | ||
2008 | Wieners | Mrs. Applebaum | |
Happy Wednesday | Deana Williams | Short film | |
Extreme Movie | Jane | ||
2009 | Spring Breakdown | Lavonne | |
The Big Idea | Iris Pikarski | Short film | |
Jesus People: The Movie | Claudia | ||
The Dog Who Saved Christmas | Grandma Bannister | TV film | |
2010 | U.S.S. Alabama | Dr. Lila Corn | TV film |
Dick Tracy Special | Bernice | TV film | |
Lilly's Light | Peaches | TV film | |
The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation | Grandma Bannister | TV film | |
2011 | The Newest Pledge | President Dumervile | |
Monster Mutt | Helen | ||
Mars Needs Moms | The Supervisor | Voice | |
Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Female Insurance Agent | ||
The Dog Who Saved Halloween | Grandma Bannister | TV film | |
2012 | Any Day Now | Miss Mills | |
The Dog Who Saved the Holidays | Grandma Bannister | Video | |
2013 | Monsters University | Additional Voices | |
2014 | The Dog Who Saved Easter | Grandma Bannister | Video |
2015 | The Dog Who Saved Summer | Grandma Bannister | Video |
Minions | Additional Voices | (voice) |
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | B. J. and the Bear | 1 episode | |
1986 | Perfect Strangers | Hostess | 1 episode |
1991 | On the Television | Various roles | 7 episodes |
Riders in the Sky | Lois / Stage Mother | 2 episodes | |
Evening Shade | La Wanda | 1 episode | |
1992 | The Larry Sanders Show | Writer | 3 episodes |
1993 | Saved by the Bell: The College Years | Clara Meade | 2 episodes |
1994 | Good Advice | Jill | 1 episodes |
1993, 1995 | Family Matters | ||
1995 | Sister, Sister | Denise's Mom | 1 episode |
1996 | Friends | Wedding Planner | 1 episode |
Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher | Mrs. Fleckner | 1 episode | |
1997 | Ellen | June Haddassi | 1 episode |
Alright Already | Maxine | 1 episode | |
2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Lemur #2 / Newscaster | 1 episode; voice role |
Manhattan, AZ | Lona | Recurring role | |
2001 | Just Shoot Me! | Mrs. Lubitz | 1 episode |
Even Stevens | Ms. Lynch | 1 episode | |
2002 | Invader ZIM | Countess von Verminstrasser | 1 episode; voice role |
She Spies | Ylva Gallo | 1 episode | |
2003 | Hidden Hills | 2 episodes | |
On the Spot | Fifi | 5 episodes | |
2004 | Reno 911! | Mrs. Leonard | 2 episodes |
Joey | The Casting Director | 1 episode | |
2005 | Unfabulous | Superintendent Jackie Bell | 1 episode |
That's So Raven | Judge Foodie | 1 episode | |
Cuts | Ms. Fennell | 1 episode | |
Justice League Unlimited | Enid Clinton | 2 episodes | |
2006 | The King of Queens | Sherry | 1 episode |
Lovespring International | Monica | 1 episode | |
The Replacements | Scoutleader Susan | 1 episode; voice role | |
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Sister Rose | 1 episode | |
American Dragon: Jake Long | Pix McGee / Mrs. Grumplestock | 2 episodes; voice role | |
2006-2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Aunt Mellie | 2 episodes; voice role |
2006 | Come On Over | Grandy | 1 episode |
2007 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Nurse | 1 episode |
2007-2008 | Tak and the Power of Juju | Chaka Ungataka | 2 episodes; voice role |
2007-2012 | iCarly | Miss Francine Briggs | Recurring role |
Chowder | Ms. Endive | 49 episodes; voice role | |
2008 | Scrubs | Mrs. Cropper | 1 episode |
My Name Is Earl | Mrs. Zaks | 1 episode | |
Rita Rocks | 1 episode | ||
My Own Worst Enemy | Arlene Scott | Recurring role | |
Worst Week | Elka | 1 episode | |
Unknown Sender | Doris | 1 episode | |
Come On Over | Grandy | 1 episode | |
2010 | 10 Things I Hate About You | Cosmetics Shopper | 1 episode |
Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Ms. Chicarelli | 2 episodes; voice role | |
Svetlana | Mama | 1 episode | |
Warren the Ape | 1 episode | ||
Glory Daze | Ticket Lady | 1 episode | |
Desperate Housewives | Mitzi Kinsky | Recurring role (2010-2011) | |
2011 | Elvira's Movie Macabre | Ethel, Mistress of Crafts | 1 episode |
The Looney Tunes Show | Beauty School Instructor | 1 episode | |
The League | Nadia | 1 episode | |
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Dean Fenk, Mom, Abigail Gluck | 2 episodes; voice role | |
2 Broke Girls | Mrs. Stein | 1 episode | |
2011-2013 | A.N.T. Farm | Principal Susan Skidmore | Recurring role |
2012-2014 | The Legend of Korra | Chief Lin Beifong | Voice role, main (Book 1, 3-4), Book 2 recurring |
2013 | Incredible Crew | Teacher | Special Guest Role; "Student Dictator" sketch |
Legit | Janice Nugent | Recurring role | |
2015 | Breadwinners | Buhdeuce's Mom | 1 episode |
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! | Lady Pipi Wuthering | 1 episode |
Charities
Mindy Sterling supports the following charitable cause: Animals.