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 shows, has been nominated five times for a Tony Award and received one for "The Good Doctor". Other Broadway plays 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 (1967). Since then her credits have included Fedora (1978), Starting Over (1979), Outland (1981) and Communion (1989). She delighted Off-Broadway audiences for over two years with her feisty portrayal of the title character in "Driving Miss Daisy".