Frances Sternhagen, 'Sex and the City' Actress, Dead at 93

Frances Sternhagen

Frances Sternhagen, the Tony-winning actress who many fans know from her memorable role on HBO's Sex and the City, has died. She was 93.

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Sternhagen died peacefully of natural causes on Monday, Nov. 27. In a statement obtained by the publication, Sternhagen's family said, "We continued to be inspired by her love and life."

Sternhagen famously played the character of Bunny MacDougal on the hit show, portraying the snobby mother-in-law to Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), who was briefly married to her on-screen man child of a son, Trey McDougal (Kyle MacLachlan).

But her Emmy-nominated performance on Sex and the City is just one of Sternhagen's many memorable roles, as she also gained notoriety as another TV mom, Esther Calvin, who served as the mother to Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) on the popular series Cheers. That role earned her two Emmy Award nominations.

In addition to other notable TV roles in The Closer and ER, Sternhagen was also known for having a prolific stage career, making her Broadway debut back in 1955.

Appearing in numerous on and off-Broadway productions throughout her career, Sternhagen received a total of seven Tony nominations, two of which she won for her roles in The Good Doctor and The Heiress.

Sternhagen is survived by six children she shared with late husband Thomas Carlin, as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Following the news of her death, Sternhagen's son John Carlin spoke out on social media to memorialize his late mother, starting out an emotional post with, "Frannie. Mom. Frances Sternhagen."

Noting that she passed just a month and a half before her 94th birthday, Carlin went on to say, "I just want to give thanks for the remarkable gift of an artist and human being that was Frances Sternhagen."

"She was beloved by many," he continued. "I'm very lucky I was able to call her my mom, my friend, my song and dance partner."

Later on in his lengthy post, Carlin reflected on his conversation with his mom Monday afternoon, during which they both expressed how much they loved and missed one another.

"Fly on, Frannie. The curtain goes down on a life so richly, passionately, humbly and generously lived. 🙏🏻❤️," he ended the heartfelt post.

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