Frances Hussey Sternhagen, a talented actress, was born and raised in Washington, D.C., with a rich heritage as the great-granddaughter of German immigrants on her father's side.
Before taking the stage herself, Sternhagen honed her skills by teaching acting, singing, and dancing to young students at the Arena Stage Group.
Her impressive career spanned numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, earning her seven Tony Award nominations and two wins, one for her performance in "The Good Doctor" and another for "The Heiress".
Some of her notable stage appearances include "Equus", "On Golden Pond", "Angel", and "You Can't Take it with You".
Off-Broadway, Sternhagen delighted audiences for over two years with her spirited portrayal of the title character in "Driving Miss Daisy".
Her film debut was in Up the Down Staircase (1967),followed by a string of credits including Fedora (1978),Starting Over (1979),Outland (1981),and Communion (1989).
Sternhagen's television career was marked by a memorable role as Esther Clavin, the mother of Cliff Clavin, on the popular sitcom Cheers (1982).
She also played the role of Millicent Carter, the grandmother of John Carter, on the hit medical drama ER (1994),and appeared in episodes of Sex and the City (1998) and Becker (1998).
