While ABC's The Goldbergs delves into the wild and wacky adolescent years of the family's youngest during 1980-something, creator Adam F. Goldberg doesn't just make the past clearer every day with these storylines, but with some very special guest stars.
Because not only are the names of the characters in this autobiographical sitcom kept the same, but some of these real-life family and friends to the creator have made cameos over the show's nine seasons. And while some kept their names, others took on their parents' names, playing the parent to their younger self's portrayer.
Brea Bee as Vicki Bee
While Adam's girlfriend of three seasons is portrayed by Kim Possible star Sadie Stanley, when Brea's mother made an appearance in Season 8, she was played by none other than the real-life Brea Bee.
In a pre-credits segment after the episode, Bee sits down with Adam's portrayer Sean Giambrone, where she admits how "super weird" it felt playing her own mother on the show. Bee also makes an appearance in Season 4, but this time credited as Mrs. Vanica, a shopper at SPencer's who interacts with workers Erica and Barry.
The JTP as The JTP
In a Season 5 episode all about Barry and his group of friends called The Jenkintown Posse — better known as THE JTP — it's only fitting for the entire JTP to make a cameo at the end.
The real Barry Goldberg, Matt Bradley, Andy Cogan, Geoff Schwartz and Rob Smith all appear, where they play a game of football against the fictional JTP, who ultimately get beaten by their namesakes. The JTP appears later in the season at the end of another episode dedicated to the posse where they compare themselves to the actors who portray them.
Dave Kim As Dave Kim
There is no character's name from this show that is more memorable than Dave Kim's. Sad in full by anyone who mentions him, Dave Kim is known for his turtlenecks and heavy sarcasm.
In an episode that the creators dedicate to Dave Kim, he appears as himself — in a turtleneck, no less — during a pre-credits segment where he talks to Sean Giambrone about the infamous "Dave Kim party" the episode is centered around.
Emmy Mirsky as Serry Mirsky
Emmy Mirsky is the childhood best friend of Adam; a character we watch grow up right alongside the show's star. But two episodes include Emmy's mother, played by the real Emmy Mirsky.
Credited under her married name Emily McCoy, the creator's best friend plays her portrayer's mother in Seasons 5 and 6 — two episodes where Emmy acts out against her mother's better judgment. McCoy speaks in a pre-credits segment in Season 5 about being friends since they were 6 years old while old home videos of the two play.
Chad Kremp as Charles Kremp
The real Chad Kremp, best friend to creator Adam F. Goldberg, has been playing his own father, Charlies Kremp, since Season 4. But what some don't know is that Kremp made another cameo in the series.
In a Season 1 episode all about The Kremps, who join The Goldbergs for a barbecue, the real Chad Kremp makes a blink-or-you'll-miss-it appearance as a deli worker, sharing a scene with his own mother's portrayer, Jennifer Irwin.
R. D. Robb as Paul Sirochman
If you don't know the name R.D. Robb, maybe that's because you know this actor as Schwartz. No, not Geoff Swartz from The Goldbergs, but Schwartz in Christmastime classic A Christmas Story, which is credited as inspiration behind the show.
R.D. Robb not only grew up with Adam F. Goldberg, but makes more than one appearance in the show as a photographer, the first being an episode all about how Robb's talent manager mother books Adam a nerdy role in a movie, much to Beverly's dismay. Robb later appears as a photographer in two more episodes.
Jackie Geary as Lynn Geary
While Jackie, Adam's girlfriend before Brea, has had two portrayers throughout the series, Jackie's mother Lynn has only had one: the real-life Jackie Geary.
When Beverly attempts to get Jackie to reconsider her breakup with Adam by standing outside The Geary's house and talking to Jackie through her bedroom window, the real Jackie appears in the next window, playing her own mother. Geary later appears as Lynn in two more episodes.
Eric Goldberg as "The Real Eric Goldberg"
It's common knowledge to The Goldbergs fans that while Erica is a prominent character on the show as Adam's sister, she never actually existed. Instead, Adam F. Goldberg grew up with another brother, Eric.
Eric Goldberg makes two pre-credits appearances on the show, one where he tells childhood stories alongside his portrayer Hayley Orrantia, including the time he got arrested for stealing a knish and how he made a fake I.D. in high school, but admits the character's rock star dreams were made up for the show.
Essie Karp, Virginia Kremp and Linda Schwartz as The Yentas
In a Season 5 episode cleverly titled "The Goldberg Girls" after The Golden Girls, it's all about Beverly Goldberg and her group of friends — Essie, Virginia and Linda.
At the end of the episode, when the friends are all sitting in a restaurant, in the booth beside theirs is a group of four older women, played by the real-life counterparts: Essie Karp, Virginia Kremp and Linda Schwartz. FIctional Virginia Kremp notices the group and comments, "I hope that's us when we're old."
Beverly Goldberg as Herself
Adam's mother, Beverly Goldberg, plays a key role in every episode as she tries to wrangle her children, their friends and partners, who husband, and her father. Known for her bleeped-out curse words and ugly glammed-out sweaters, the real Beverly Goldberg has appeared on the show several times to admit to her "smother" ways.
But in the Season 5 episode "The Goldberg Girls," the show's creator's mother appears as an unnamed character alongside her real-life Yenta friends to end an episode that was dedicated to their decades-long friendship. This episode ends with Beverly Goldberg swapping stories with her group of friends.