Frances Sternhagen, the Tony-winning Broadway actress who also charmed TV audiences as Cliff Claven’s mom Esther on “Cheers” has died. She was 93.
Sternhagen’s son, actor John Carlin, announced Wednesday on Instagram that his mother died of natural causes on Monday night.
“Frannie. Mom. Frances Sternhagen. On Monday night, Nov 27, she died peacefully at her home, a month and a half shy of her 94th birthday,” Carlin wrote.
“Fly on, Frannie,” he added. The curtain goes down on a life so richly, passionately, humbly and generously lived.”
The legendary Broadway star won two Best Featured Actress/Play Tony awards: one for “The Good Doctor ” in 1974 and “The Heiress” in 1995.
Sternhagen received Tony nominations for her roles in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” (1972), “Equus” (1975), “Angel” (1978), “Golden Pond” (1979), and “Morning’s at Seven” (2002).
In addition, the starlet appeared alongside Sean Connery in “Outland ” in 1981 and Michael J. Fox in 1988’s “Bright Lights, Big City.”
Sternhagen also made memorable appearances on TV shows, including “ER,” and as Charlotte York’s eccentric first mother-in-law Bunny MacDougal on “Sex and the City” — which earned her an Emmy nom.
“I must say it’s fun to play these snobby older ladies. It’s always more fun to be obnoxious,” Sternhagen told the Los Angeles Times in 2002.
She added: “I have known women like that, and I can imitate them, I guess.”
The critically-acclaimed actress also had a reoccurring role in “The Closer” from 2006 to 2016.
She also earned two Emmy nominations for her role in “Cheers.”
Sternhagen married Thomas A. Carlin in 1956 until his death in 1991.
They had six kids together: Paul, Amanda, Tony, Sarah, Peter and John.