Raised in Washington, D.C., Frances Sternhagen taught acting, singing and dancing to school children before first performing herself with the Arena Stage Group. Since that time, she has been seen in numerous Broadway show, has been nominated five times for a Tony Award and received one for "The Good Doctor". Other shows that she has appeared in include "Equus", "On Golden Pond", "Angel" and "You Can't Take it With You".

Ms. Sternhagen's film debut was in Up the Down Staircase. Since then her credits have included Fedora, Starting Over, Outland and Communion. She delighted Off-Broadway audiences for over two years with her feisty portrayal of the title character in "Driving Miss Daisy".



Widowed mother of 6 children. Nominated for Tony award, along with two other female cast members, as Best Featured Actress in a Play, for role in "Morning's At Seven", May 2002. Best known to television audiences as playing Cliff's mother on "Cheers." Awarded the The Helen Hayes Tribute by the Helen Hayes Award Organization on April 16, 2007.