Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Frances Sternhagen

Highest Rated: 100% The Hospital (1971)

Lowest Rated: 13% The Rising Place (2002)

Birthday: Jan 13, 1930

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA

A respected stage-trained supporting and leading player, Sternhagen made her film debut in "Up the Down Staircase" (1967). She subsequently appeared in a wide range of supporting roles, usually as either prim, slightly disapproving characters as well as warmly maternal women. Sternhagen's credits include the classic "The Hospital" (1971), "Two People" (1973) and Billy Wilder's "Fedora" (1978). She won attention for her portrayal as Burt Reynolds' relative under whose auspices he meets his new love in Alan J. Pakula's "Starting Over" (1979) and nearly stole the sci-fi thriller "Outland" (1981), providing comic relief and support to marshal Sean Connery. Sternhagen portrayed a prissy co-worker of Michael J. Fox in "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988), Farrah Fawcett's mother in Pakula's "See You in the Morning" (1989), Richard Farnsworth's wife in "Misery" (1990) and John Lithgow's psychiatrist in "Raising Cain" (1992). Sternhagen is a familiar face to TV viewers. She is probably best-known for her recurring role as the mother to mailman Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) on the NBC comedy "Cheers." Sternhagen began appearing on the small screen in the 1950s and spent the better part of the late 60s and early 70s in a variety of roles on daytime soaps ("Love of Life," "The Doctors," "The Secret Storm" and "Another World"). In primetime, she has played regular supporting roles in everything from sitcoms ("Under One Roof") to drama ("Stephen King's Golden Years"). Sternhagen also has extensive stage credits in everything from classic plays to musical comedies. She has received two Tony Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Play for Neil Simon's "The Good Doctor" (1974), based on Chekhov works to a revival of "The Heiress" (1995), based on the Henry James' novella. Sternhagen was married to actor Thomas A. Carlin from 1956 until his death in 1991. Frances Sternhagen died on November 27, 2023 at the age of 93.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

100% 73% The Hospital
Watchlist
91% 90% Misery
Watchlist
81% 80% Dolphin Tale
Watchlist
77% 70% Julie & Julia Watchlist
75% 58% Starting Over
Watchlist
73% 65% The Mist Watchlist
71% 62% Fedora
Watchlist
67% 51% Doc Hollywood Watchlist
63% 40% Raising Cain
Watchlist
57% 39% Bright Lights, Big City Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
16% 40% And So It Goes Claire (Character) $15.2M 2014
81% 80% Dolphin Tale Gloria Forrest (Character) $72.3M 2011
77% 70% Julie & Julia Irma Rombauer (Character) $94.1M 2009
73% 65% The Mist Irene (Character) $25.6M 2007
13% 80% The Rising Place Ruth Wilder (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet To Live Again Constance Holmes (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Con Hadabelle (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Reunion Tobie Yates (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Labor of Love: The Arlette Schweitzer Story Mary Rafferty (Character) - 1993
63% 40% Raising Cain Dr. Lynn Waldheim (Character) $20.5M 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet She Woke Up Noelle (Character) - 1992
67% 51% Doc Hollywood Lillian (Character) $51.8M 1991
91% 90% Misery Virginia McCain (Character) $54.7M 1990
25% 32% Sibling Rivalry Rose Turner (Character) $16.8M 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Follow Your Heart Cloe Sixbury (Character) - 1990
46% 46% Communion Dr. Janet Duffy (Character) $1.9M 1989
55% 35% See You in the Morning Neenie (Character) $4.4M 1989
57% 39% Bright Lights, Big City Clara (Character) $15.7M 1988
No Score Yet 67% Resting Place Eudora McCallister (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Once Again Unknown (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 60% Independence Day Carla Taylor (Character) - 1983
No Score Yet 38% Prototype Dorothy Forrester (Character) - 1983
29% 48% Romantic Comedy Blanche Dailey (Character) - 1983
54% 54% Outland Dr. Lazarus (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mother and Daughter: The Loving War Mrs. Lloyd (Character) - 1980
75% 58% Starting Over Marva Potter (Character) - 1979
71% 62% Fedora Miss Balfour (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Two People Mrs. McCluskey (Character) - 1973
100% 73% The Hospital Mrs. Cushing (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Soldier in Love Abigail (Character) - 1967

TV

Credit
83% 84% The Closer Willie Ray Johnson (Voice),
Unknown (Guest Star)
2006-2012
88% 95% Parenthood Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
No Score Yet 96% Becker Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 85% ER Millicent Carter (Guest Star) 1997-1998 2001 2003
70% 80% Sex and the City Bunny MacDougal (Guest Star) 2000-2002
85% 76% The Simpsons Mrs. Bellamy (Guest Voice) 2002
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 1991 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Jean Anderson (Character) 1995
87% 95% Cheers Esther Clavin (Guest Star) 1986-1987 1990-1993
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stephen King's Golden Years Gina Williams (Character) 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Studio One Betty (Character) 1956