‘Cheers’ Actress and Vassar Alumni Dies in the Hudson Valley

Hollywood is saying goodbye to a popular star who had big Hudson Valley connections.

I'm the celebrity stalker here at the radio station, I always just come clean about it. I'm always paying attention to what's going on in Hollywood, who is getting married and sadly which stars pass away.

An actress who has been in some HUGE television shows like 'Cheers' ( you know...one of the biggest shows about a bar) and 'Sex and the City' (one of the biggest shows for single ladies), and 'ER' unfortunately passed away and she had more Hudson Valley then I think we all realized.

Who was Frances Sternhagen?

She was born in 1930 and she was an actress, who appeared on Broadway, and in multiple movies. Frances received two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, a Saturn Award and Primetime Emmy nominations. I would put money on the fact that you've seen her in some television or movie at some point.

Here are just a few things she appeared in:

• 'Cheers'
• 'Sex and the City'
• 'The Closer'
• 'Misery'
• 'The Hospital'
• 'Julie & Julia'

For me, she will always be Bunny MacDougal from 'Sex and the City'. She may have looked like a cute old lady, but she played the overbearing and mean mother-in-law role perfectly in the show. You really got upset with her character and how she was so mean to Charlotte York on the show.

However, most people know her from her time on 'Cheers' where she played Ester Clavin, the mother of the popular character Cliff Clavin.

How was Frances Sternhagen connected to the Hudson Valley?

Frances attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie and she was reportedly elected head of the Drama Club there. Frances would also make frequent returns to the Vassar campus and the school always held a special spot in her heart.

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Frances was also a longtime resident of New Rochelle and she reportedly died in her home there. Her late husband, Thomas Carlin passed away in 1991 and the couple shared 6 children together.

Rest in Peace Frances, thank you for all your contributions in Hollywood and here in the Hudson Valley.