Sex And The City actress Frances Sternhagen has died aged 93.
The veteran actress passed away peacefully of natural causes in New Rochelle, New York, according to her family.
Her loved ones released a statement Wednesday saying, “We continue to be inspired by her love and life.”
Sternhagen was best known for her role as Charlotte York’s insufferable mother-in-law, Bunny MacDougal, on “Sex and the City” from 2000 to 2002.
Sex And The City actress Frances Sternhagen has died aged 93; She is seen in New York in March 2002
Sternhagen was best known for her role as Charlotte York’s insufferable mother-in-law Bunny MacDougal on “Sex and the City” from 2000 to 2002 – from left to right: Sternhagen, Kyle MacLachlan and Kristin Davis
Playing Kristin Davis’ mother on the popular series wasn’t her only typical matriarch role, as she also portrayed the bossy Esther Clavin – the mother of John Ratzenberger’s Boston postman Cliff Clavin (pictured) – on the classic sitcom Cheers
Playing Kristin Davis’ mother on the popular series wasn’t her only typical matriarch role, as she also portrayed the overbearing Esther Clavin – the mother of John Ratzenberger’s Boston postman Cliff Clavin – on the classic sitcom Cheers.
The talented actor received Emmy nominations for both roles.
The acting legend also received two Tony Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Dramatic) in 1974 for the original Broadway production of Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor and in 1995 for the revival of The Heiress.
She was nominated five additional times for awards recognizing excellence on Broadway, including as part of the cast of Equus (1975), On Golden Pond (1979), The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window (1972), Angel (1978), and The 2002 revival of Paul Osborn’s Morning’s at Seven.
She definitely had a knack for playing eccentric characters who had a cocky, often matter-of-fact attitude.
Sternhagen told the Los Angeles Times back in 2002, “I have to say, it’s fun to play these snobby older ladies.” It’s always more fun to be obnoxious.
“I know women like that and I guess I can imitate them.”
Her career spanned 63 years from 1951 to 2014, when she first appeared on the East Coast stage.
She definitely had a knack for playing eccentric characters who had a cocky, often matter-of-fact attitude; She is pictured in Sex And The City
The acting legend also received two Tony Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Dramatic) in 1974 for the original Broadway production of Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor” and in 1995 for the revival of “The Heiress.”; She is pictured in New York in July 2009
Sternhagen (seen in July 2009) told the Los Angeles Times back in 2002, “I have to say, it’s fun to play these snobby older ladies.” It’s always more fun to be obnoxious. I have known women like that and I think I can imitate them.’
The talented actress made her film debut in 1967 with “Up The Down Staircase,” which starred Oscar winners Sandy Dennis and Eileen Heckart as well as Patrick Bedford and Jean Stapleton.
She had several film roles, including The Tiger Makes Out (1967), The Hospital (1971), Bright Lights, Starting Over (1979), Big City (1988), See You In The Morning (1989) and Misery (1990). , The Mist (2007), Julie and Julia (2009), Dolphin Tale (2011) and And So It Goes (2014).
More recently, she played the mother of Kyra Sedgewick’s protagonist, LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, on the TNT series “The Closer,” which aired from 2005 to 2012.
Another notable television role included playing the grandmother – named Millicent “Gamma” Carter – to Noah Wyle’s character John Carter on the series “ER”.
Her career spanned 63 years from 1951 to 2014, when she first appeared on the East Coast stage; She is pictured with Kyra Sedwick in the second season of The Closer in 2006
Sternhagen (pictured in October 2010) is survived by her children Paul, Amanda, Tony, Sarah, Peter and John
In 1955, she starred in an off-Broadway production of Thieves’ Carnival at Cherry Lane, where she met her future husband, Thomas A. Carlin.
The two married the following year in 1956 and remained together until his death in 1991.
Sternhagen is survived by her children Paul, Amanda, Tony, Sarah, Peter and John.
The legendary actress will be remembered with a celebration of her career and life planned for mid-January, just before her 94th birthday.