Francis Sternhagen who was a two-time Tony Award-Winner for her Broadway performances in "The Good Doctor" and "The Heiress," has recently died at the age of 93, as confirmed by her family in a statement to People.
According to them, the acclaimed actress and dearly beloved mother passed away peacefully due to natural causes in New Rochelle, New York, last Monday, Nov. 27. The family also wrote, "We continue to be inspired by her love and life."
Sternhagen is a mother and grandmother to "6 children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren," all of whom plan to hold "a celebration of her remarkable career and life" in the middle of January for the actress' 94th birthday. Her son, John Carlin, also posted a personal statement on Instagram in regards to his mom's passing.
"Fly on, Frannie. The curtain goes down on a life so richly, passionately, humbly, and generously lived," he wrote.
Remembering Francis Sternhagen's Impressive Career
Sternhagen started out as an instructor for the Milton Academy in Massachusets, teaching the school children how to act, sing, and dance. At the age of 18, she began to establish a name for herself within the area's theatrical scene which includes both the Bryn Mawr and Arena Stage.
At age 25, she moved on to the brighter stage lights of Broadway to star as "Miss T. Muse" in the stage revival of the production "The Skin of Our Teeth." That same year, she was involved in an off-Broadway play entitled "Thieves' Carnival" and she also made her TV debut in a show called "The Great Bank Robbery."
Her meteoric rise as an immensely successful stage performer was cemented as she starred in seven critically acclaimed productions, namely "The Carefree Tree," "Viva Madison Avenue," "Great Day in The Morning," "The Right Honourable Gentleman," "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running," "The Cocktail Party," and "Cock-a-Doodle Dandy."
Aside from her theatrical success, Sternhagen also had a widely felt TV and film presence, playing maternal roles. In fact, she snagged three Emmy nominations for playing the mother of "Cliff Calvin" on the show "Cheers," and as the mom of "Trey" on the movie "Sex and the City."
In the entirety of Sternhagen's Broadway career, however, she has played in a total of 26 productions, with another long list of varied roles for her involvement with off-Broadway plays. In addition to her two wins at the prestigious Tony Awards, Sternhagen has also been Tony-nominated for an additional five times.
Like her family have expressed, she has indeed lived a full life and was extensively celebrated for it.
