Frances Sternhagen (Cliff’s Mom) Dies at 93

[JamesG]

Frances Sternhagen Dies: Tony-Winning Broadway Actress, Cliff’s Mom on "Cheers" was 93
by Greg Evans
November 29, 2023


Frances Sternhagen, the legendary Broadway actress who won two Tony Awards, was nominated for another five and achieved lasting and widespread recognition for her comedically stern portrayal of Esther Clavin, the demanding mother of insufferable postman Cliff Claven on "Cheers", died Nov. 27 of natural causes.

She was 93.




Her death was announced by her son, the actor John Carlin, on Instagram.

“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. Fly on, Frannie. The curtain goes down on a life so richly, passionately, humbly and generously lived.”




TV viewers most remember her for her matriarch-type characters that include:

- her twice Emmy-nominated role as Esther Clavin on "Cheers"

- Millicent Carter, the grandmother of Noah Wyle’s Dr. John Carter on "ER"

- Bunny MacDougal, the stuffy mom of Kyle MacLachlan’s Trey and mother-in-law of Kristin Davis’ Charlotte on "Sex and the City"

- Willie Rae Johnson, the mother of Kyra Sedgwick’s Brenda Leigh Johnson on "The Closer"

https://deadline.com/2023/11/frances...ry-1235642466/

[80sTrivia]

So sad to hear the news of her passing. She was also wonderful as the wife of the sheriff (Richard Farnsworth) in Misery...

[Dude111]

Very sad Jimmy