Frances Sternhagen

Biography: Frances Sternhagen was still in her teens when she made her first professional stage appearance as the thirtyish Laura in a 1948 summer-stock production of The Glass Menagerie. After graduating from Vassar with a BA degree in drama, Frances attended the Perry-Mansfield School of the Theatre and New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. She briefly worked as a teacher at Massachussett's Milton Academy before her off-Broadway debut as Juliette in Girardoux' Thieves' Carnival--one of the last times that this dynamic character actress would ever portray a flighty ingenue. She went on to spend several seasons at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Back in New York, Sternhagen won two Obie Awards for her performances in Admirable Bashville and The New Pinter Plays, and in 1973 received the Tony Award for her multiple characterizations in Neil Simon's Good Doctor 1973. She followed this personal triumph by creating two of her all-time favorite stage roles: Dora in Equus (1974) and EthelFrances Sternhagen was still in her teens when she made her first professional stage appearance as the thirtyish Laura in a 1948 summer-stock production of The Glass Menagerie. After graduating from Vassar with a BA degree in drama, Frances attended the Perry-Mansfield School of the Theatre and New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. She briefly worked as a teacher at Massachussett's Milton Academy before her off-Broadway debut as Juliette in Girardoux' Thieves' Carnival--one of the last times that this dynamic character actress would ever portray a flighty ingenue. She went on to spend several seasons at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Back in New York, Sternhagen won two Obie Awards for her performances in Admirable Bashville and The New Pinter Plays, and in 1973 received the Tony Award for her multiple characterizations in Neil Simon's Good Doctor 1973. She followed this personal triumph by creating two of her all-time favorite stage roles: Dora in Equus (1974) and Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond (1979). Launching her film career in 1967, Sternhagen has been seen in an exhausting variety of movie roles; among the best of these was no-nonsense Dr. Marion Lazarus in Outland (1982), matching wits and witticisms with outer-space peacekeeper Sean Connery. On television, Frances Sternhagen enjoyed sizable roles on such daytime dramas as Love of Life, One Life to Live, Secret Storm, and was seen on a regular basis in the prime-time series Spencer (1985, as Millie Sprague), Stephen King's the Golden Years (1991, as Gina Williams) and The Road Home (1994, as Charlotte Babineaux). Expand

Frances Sternhagen's Scores

Average career score: 72
Highest Metascore: 78 The Closer: Season 7
Lowest Metascore: 66 Stephen King's Golden Years: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
4 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd Parenthood : Season 3 Sep 13, 2011 Blanche 8.3
78 The Closer: Season 7 Jul 11, 2011 Willie Ray Johnson 7.7
tbd The Closer: Season 6 Jul 12, 2010 Willie Ray Johnson 8.4
tbd The Closer: Season 5 Jun 8, 2009 Willie Ray Johnson 8.0
74 The Closer: Season 4 Jul 14, 2008 Willie Ray Johnson 8.3
tbd The Closer: Season 3 Jun 18, 2007 Willie Ray Johnson 7.7
tbd The Closer: Season 2 Jun 12, 2006 Actor 7.8
tbd Becker: Season 6 Oct 8, 2003 Naomi tbd
tbd ER: Season 9 Sep 26, 2002 Millicent Carter / Millicent Carter 7.6
tbd Sex and the City: Season 5 Jul 21, 2002 Bunny / Bunny / Bunny McDougal 7.9
tbd The Simpsons: Season 13 Nov 6, 2001 Mrs. Myrna Bellamy 7.9
tbd ER: Season 8 Sep 27, 2001 Millicent Carter / Millicent Carter 8.4
tbd Sex and the City: Season 4 Jun 3, 2001 Bunny / Bunny 7.9
tbd ER: Season 7 Oct 12, 2000 Millicent Carter / Millicent Carter 7.8
tbd Sex and the City: Season 3 Jun 4, 2000 Bunny / Bunny 8.2
tbd ER: Season 6 Sep 30, 1999 Millicent Carter / Millicent Carter 7.0
tbd Another World: Season 36 May 4, 1999 Jane Overstreet (1971) tbd
tbd ER: Season 4 Oct 7, 1998 Millicent Carter / Millicent Carter 8.8
tbd Another World: Season 35 May 4, 1998 Jane Overstreet (1971) tbd
tbd Another World: Season 34 Jul 10, 1997 Jane Overstreet (1971) tbd
tbd Law & Order: Season 7 Sep 18, 1996 Estelle Muller 9.4
tbd Cheers: Season 11 Sep 24, 1992 Esther Clavin / Mrs. Clavin / Esther Clavin 9.5
tbd Tales from the Crypt: Season 4 Jun 27, 1992 Actor tbd
tbd Cheers: Season 10 Sep 19, 1991 Esther Clavin / Mrs. Clavin / Esther Clavin 9.3
66 Stephen King's Golden Years: Season 1 Jul 16, 1991 Gina Williams tbd
tbd Another World: Season 27 Oct 29, 1990 Jane Overstreet (1971) tbd
tbd Cheers: Season 9 Sep 20, 1990 Esther Clavin / Mrs. Clavin / Esther Clavin tbd
68 Law & Order: Season 1 Sep 13, 1990 Margaret 8.5
tbd Cheers: Season 6 Sep 24, 1987 Esther Clavin / Mrs. Clavin / Esther Clavin 9.4
tbd Another World: Season 24 Jun 30, 1987 Jane Overstreet (1971) tbd