Dr. Evil's Organization

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The organization's narrative begins in 1967 when Dr. Evil was cryogenically frozen, only to be reawakened in 1997 after thirty years of slumber. Upon returning, he resumed his routine of hatching schemes to take over the world, utilizing a diverse group of stereotypical minions. His backstory is never detailed in the films, and no mention is made of his parents. The organization's structure is deeply personal yet dysfunctional. The group's identity is further enriched by the revelation that Dr. Evil is actually Austin Powers' twin brother, separated at birth and raised in Bruges, Belgium.

In Their Own Story

The internal drama of the organization peaked during family therapy sessions that ended with Dr. Evil liquidating the group over an accusation of insolence from his son, Scott. Tensions escalated when Scott pointed out obvious mistakes in Dr. Evil's plans, prompting a shift where Scott grew more 'evil' to gain his father's respect. A pivotal moment occurred when Scott provided a pool filled with sharks equipped with laser beams attached to their heads, earning temporary approval. In the third film, Goldmember, the dynamic shifted drastically when Nigel Powers revealed the twin connection between Dr. Evil and Austin. Later, in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil played a Bösendorfer Imperial piano at his secret Island hideout while Mini-Me played a 'mini Bösendorfer Imperial.' In Goldmember, Dr. Evil and Frau Farbissina kissed while he was in prison to transfer an escape key. Ultimately, after Dr. Evil switched sides to help Austin save the world, Scott took over as the head of the evil organization.

Reader's Guide

The hierarchy places Dr. Evil at the top, supported by Number Two, who fronts Virtucon Industries and manages financial aspects, ensuring massive profits without straying far into illegality. Directly under them is Frau Farbissina, described as a lesbian whose name means 'embittered' in Yiddish; she was the founder of the militant wing of The Salvation Army and became irresistible to Dr. Evil after he imbibed Austin Powers' mojo. The henchmen include Fat Bastard, a Scottish morbidly obese man weighing a metric ton known for cannibalism who later lost weight via the 'Subway diet,' and Random Task, an ex-wrestler who throws shoes instead of hats to parody Oddjob. Mustafa is credited with designing the cryogenic freezing process that preserved Dr. Evil for 30 years. The organization also includes Mini-Me, a clone described as 'one-eighth his size but twice as evil' who never speaks, serving as a parody of Majai from The Island of Dr. Moreau. Their pet cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, lost all fur due to an error in the thawing process and is now played by a Sphynx named Ted Nude Gent.

Did You Know?

• Dr. Evil's cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, is hairless because he lost all his fur due to an error in the thawing process after 30 years of cryogenic freezing.
• In the third film, Dr. Evil was revealed to be Austin Powers' secret twin brother, who was raised in Bruges, Belgium.
• Frau Farbissina is Dr. Evil's stern, militant personal assistant, known for her harsh discipline and loyalty, but she is not the founder of any Salvation Army wing.

Origins and Inspirations

Dr. Evil was created as a parody of James Bond villains, primarily Ernst Stavro Blofeld, with his name also referencing Dr. Julius No and other mad scientists with the title 'Doctor.' Mike Myers, who portrays him, insisted the character was based on Donald Pleasence's portrayal in You Only Live Twice, though he admitted the voice had some Lorne Michaels influence, specifically regarding the pinkie mannerism. Initially, Myers sought Jim Carrey for the role, but Carrey declined due to conflicts with Liar Liar (1997). The character faced a real-world legal hurdle when American costume maker Pp Morris claimed trademark rights to a Dr. Evil character created in 1959. This led to an eight-year legal battle between Morris and New Line Cinema, which concluded only after the studio paid a settlement.

Backstory and Family Secrets

According to his own account, Dr. Evil's father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery, while his mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. His childhood included summers in Rangoon, luge lessons, making meat helmets in the spring, and being placed in a burlap bag to be beaten with reeds when insolent. At age 12, he received his first scribe; at 14, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved his testicles. In the second film, he appeared on The Jerry Springer Show declaring himself the 'Princess of Canada.' A major revelation in Goldmember established that Dr. Evil is actually Austin Powers' twin brother, Douglas 'Dougie' Powers. Separated as babies after a car explosion, Dougie was raised in Bruges, Belgium, while their father, Nigel Powers, believed only Austin had survived.

Key Associates and Minions

Dr. Evil's inner circle features Number Two (played by Robert Wagner, with young versions by Rob Lowe and Evan Farmer) leading the industrial empire Virtucon. Frau Farbissina serves as his personal assistant; in Goldmember, she and Dr. Evil kiss in prison to facilitate his escape. The group includes Fat Bastard, a Scottish henchman weighing a metric ton known for foul temper and cannibalism, who later lost weight using the 'Subway diet.' Random Task is an ex-wrestler who throws shoes instead of hats, and Mustafa designed the cryogenic process that preserved Dr. Evil for 30 years. Mini-Me (played by Verne Troyer) is a dwarf clone described as 'one-eighth his size but twice as evil,' modeled after the character Majai from The Island of Dr. Moreau. At their secret hideout in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil played a Bösendorfer Imperial piano (noting that 'böse' means evil in German) while Mini-Me played a miniature version.

Dynamic with Heir Scott

Dr. Evil shares a strained relationship with his son Scott (played by Seth Green), whom he once accused of insolence, leading him to liquidate their therapy group. Scott frequently criticizes Dr. Evil's incompetence and immaturity, pointing out obvious flaws in the villain's plans. The dynamic shifts when Scott adopts a more 'evil' persona, gaining his father's respect after providing sharks with laser beams attached to their heads. In Austin Powers: Goldmember, Dr. Evil considers Mini-Me more of a real son than Scott, provoking jealousy. However, in a major turning point, Dr. Evil switches sides to help Austin save the world. Following this decision, Scott takes over as the head of the evil organization, replacing his father and marking a complete inversion of their power structure.