Frances Sternhagen

Frances Sternhagen, the daughter of John M. Sternhagen, a U.S. tax court judge (and his wife, Gertrude Wyckoff Sternhagen), graduated from Vassar College. She wed actor Thomas A. Carlin in 1956; he died in 1991. The couple had six children (several of whom are also professional actors and musicians) : Paul Carlin, Amanda Carlin, Tony Carlin, Sarah Carlin, Peter Carlin and John Carlin.

Studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse during the 1960s.

Raised in Washington, D. C. , the great-granddaughter (on her father's side) of German immigrants, Frances Hussey Sternhagen taught acting, singing and dancing to schoolchildren before first performing herself with the Arena Stage Group. Since then, she has been seen in numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. She has been nominated five times for a Tony Award (winning once for her performance in "The Good Doctor"). Other shows in which she appeared include "Equus", "On Golden Pond", "Angel", and "You Can't Take it With You". Among many other appearances Off-Broadway, including the original production of "On Golden Pond", Sternhagen delighted Off-Broadway audiences for over two years with her feisty portrayal of the title character in "Driving Miss Daisy". Her film debut was in Up the Down Staircase (1967).

Has won two Tony Awards: in 1974 as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The Good Doctor," and in 1995 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for a revival of "The Heiress." She has been nominated five other times: as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) in 1972 for a revival "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" and in 1975 for "Equus;" as Best Actress (Musical) in 1978 for "Angel;" as Best Actress (Play) in 1979 for "On Golden Pond;" and as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) in 2002 for a revival of "Morning's at Seven."

Since then her credits have included Fedora (1978), Starting Over (1979), Outland (1981) and Communion (1989).

She appeared on the long-running television series Cheers (1982) as Esther Clavin, mother of John Ratzenberger's character, the pedagogic know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin.

She played wealthy philanthropist and society matron Millicent Carter, the grandmother of John Carter (Noah Wyle) on ER (1994).

Nominated for Tony award, along with two other female cast members, as Best Featured Actress in a Play, for role in "Morning's At Seven", May 2002.

Starring in Steel Magnolias on Broadway as Clairee Belcher (the role played by Olympia Dukakis in the film version of the play). [March 2005]

Awarded the The Helen Hayes Tribute by the Helen Hayes Award Organization on April 16, 2007.