Mindy Sterling Biography

Mindy Lee Sterling (born July 11, 1953) is an American actress. Although she had worked in film for over thirty years, she only began to garner attention after playing Frau Farbissina, the diminutive and domineering Germanic cohort of Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) in the Austin Powers series of comedy films. She also has a recurring role as Principal Susan Skidmore on Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm. She is also the voice of Lin Beifong, Retired Police Chief of Republic City and the Daughter of Toph Beifong on The Legend of Korra.

Early life

Sterling was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to actor and comedian Dick Sterling of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her mother was a dancer. At 13, she began her training to become an actress.

Career

Around 1973, Sterling landed a recurring role on the syndicated children's series Dusty's Treehouse. She joined the renowned L.A.-based comedy troupe The Groundlings. Following the success of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Sterling appeared in Drop Dead Gorgeous (also 1999). In 2000, she played one of the townspeople in the live-action adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She plays Christian Slater's secretary in the show My Own Worst Enemy. She also played Judge Foodie on the Disney show That's So Raven and played a volleyball coach on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She appears in A.N.T. Farm as Principal Susan Skidmore.

In 2000, Sterling appeared as a celebrity guest on Hollywood Squares. She returned to the show in 2002.

Between 2002 and 2004, Sterling appeared as a celebrity guest on the Donny Osmond version of the game show Pyramid.

In 2012, Sterling appeared in a trailer for a non-existent parody of "The Hunger Games" entitled "The Hunger Pains". She currently voices the character Chief Lin Beifong in The Legend of Korra.

On April 25, 2013 before the finale of the second season of A.N.T. Farm, Sterling announced she doesn't want to be on the third season due to some problems in her family. She announced in June 2012 that she might return sometime in the fourth season and guest appearances in the third season.

Personal life

Health

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.

Filmography

Film

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	Right-side sewing machine face/Rob's Mother
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
	Transformers: Dark of the Moon	Female Insurance Agent
	The Dog Who Saved Halloween	Grandma	TV film
2012	Any Day Now	Miss Mills

Television

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
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
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		2 episodes; voice role
2006"2007	Higglytown Heroes	Aunt Mellie	2 episodes; voice role
2006"2008	Robot Chicken		4 episodes; voice role
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	Various	28 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
	Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated	Dean Fenk / Librarian / Mom	2 episodes; voice role
	A.N.T. Farm	Principal Susan Skidmore	Recurring role, (2011-2013)
	2 Broke Girls	Mrs. Stein	1 episode
2012"	The Legend of Korra	Chief Lin Beifong	Voice role, main (Book 1, 3"), recurring (Book 2)
2013	Incredible Crew	Teacher	Special Guest Role; "Student Dictator" sketch
2013	Legit	Janice Nugent	Recurring role