Frances Sternhagen

Frances Sternhagen. . , Frances Sternhagen is a two-time Tony-winning actress who has performed on stage, in films and on television for more than five decades. Born on January 13, 1930 in Washington, D.C., she taught acting, singing and dancing to school children before first performing herself with the Arena Stage Group in 1953., She is best known today for her motherly roles on The Closer, E.R., Sex and the City and Cheers, the latter two earning her Emmy nominations. She made her film debut in 1967 comedy Up the Down Staircase and went on to deliver memorable performances in The Hospital, Starting Over, Outland, Misery, Doc Hollywood and Raising Cain, to name a few. During the 1950s, Sternhagen appeared in numerous Omnibus series, including Studio One, Goodyear Television Playhouse and Play of the Week. For many years, she worked in soap operas such as Another World, The Secret Storm, Love of Life and One Life to Live, as well as guest spots on Law and Order, Becker, Judging Amy, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and others. Her television movie credits include The Laramie Project, The Rising Place, and Mother and Daughter: The Loving War., Sternhagen's countless stage credits include her Tony-winning performances in The Good Doctor, The Heiress, and Tony-nominated roles in The Sign in Sid Brustein's Window, Angel, Equus, and as Ethel Thayer in the original Broadway production of On Golden Pond. Her off-Broadway performances include Obie-winning roles in The Pinter Plays and The Admirable Bashville, as well as a two-year run in Driving Miss Daisy. In 2013, she was presented with the Obie Lifetime Achievement Award., In 1959 Frances Sternhagen and her husband, actor Tom Carlin, moved to the Sutton Manor neighborhood of New Rochelle, where they raised six children. Active in her community and church, she has graciously performed at countless cultural and charity events.