The Austin Powers Star You Might Have Missed In The Goldbergs

If you know what a "Wawa" is, how to get to the Willow Grove Park Mall, and have a robust appreciation of brightly colored sweaters, then you're probably a huge fan of ABC's "The Goldbergs" Starring Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, and Jeff Garlin, "The Goldbergs" is currently in Season 9 with 207 episodes (via IMDb). Focusing on the titular family, "The Goldbergs" is a touching and hilarious family drama wrapped up in glorious 1980s fashion, music, and lingo.

The "Austin Powers" franchise was also a bit of a throwback, set in the late 60s. The popular films made over $676 million between three movies, with Mike Myers playing several characters including Dr. Evil and Austin Powers himself. The series also stars Elizabeth Hurley, Seth Green, Rob Lowe, Verne Troyer, and Michael York (via The Numbers). The "Austin Powers" movies poke fun at spy thrillers like "James Bond" and 1960s culture, but it seems like there is a shared actor between both the "Austin Powers" franchise and "The Goldbergs," but who has the skill to deal with both Beverly Goldberg (McLendon-Covey) and Dr. Evil?

It turns out that the star that is shared between both "The Goldbergs" and the "Austin Powers" franchise is Mindy Sterling, who plays Linda Schwartz in "The Goldbergs" and Frau Farbissina in the "Austin Powers" movies (via IMDb). The character of Schwartz is one of Beverly Goldberg's closest friends, and the first episode they have together is in the Season 5 episode, "We Didn't Start the Fire," which involves a Hanukkah celebration..

Frau Farbissina, for those with a hazy recollection of the "Austin Powers" movies, is one of Dr. Evil's most trusted lieutenants, who speaks with a German accent and loud, booming voice. One of the reoccurring jokes in "Austin Powers" is Farbissina slowly and loudly doing countdowns, which tends to grate on everybody around her, with Dr. Evil always coercing her to wrap it up as quickly as possible. Not only does Frau Farbissina act as a loyal hench-woman, she is also the mother of Scott Evil (Seth Green), which is only revealed much later in the franchise. Either way, it seems like Sterling (or at least, the characters she plays) knows a thing or two about dealing with highly opinionated and driven individuals.