Eileen Brennan
Born
September 3, 1932
Died
July 28, 2013 (80 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Eileen Brennan (September 3, 1932 – July 28, 2013) was an American actress who was known for her versatile performances in film, television, and theater. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Captain Doreen Lewis in the 1980 comedy film Private Benjamin. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Mrs. Hughes in the television series Newhart.
Brennan was born in Los Angeles, California, and began her acting career in the theater. She made her Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Little Mary Sunshine. She went on to appear in several other Broadway musicals, including Hello, Dolly! and Annie.
Brennan made her film debut in the 1967 satire Divorce American Style. She followed this with supporting roles in the films The Last Picture Show (1971), The Cheap Detective (1978), and The First Wives Club (1996). She also starred in the films Clue (1985) and Sister Act (1992).
In addition to her film and theater work, Brennan also had a successful television career. She appeared in numerous television shows, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Cheers, and Will & Grace.
She died on July 28, 2013, at the age of 80, from complications of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.
Brennan was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2001. She underwent treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She continued to work and act throughout her treatment, and she even appeared in the 2011 film The Big Year.
In 2013, Brennan's health began to decline. She died on July 28, 2013, at her home in Los Angeles. She was survived by her husband, David John Lampson, and her daughter, Emily.
Known For
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Naked Run
Gram Malone
2011
The Amateurs
Mrs. Cherkiss
2006
The Art of 'The Sting'
Self
2005
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Carol Fields
2005
The Hollow
Joan Van Etten
2004
Dumb Luck
Minnie Hitchcock
2003
Comic Book Villains
Mrs. Cresswell
2002
Jeepers Creepers
The Cat Lady
2001
Lizzie McGuire
Marge · (1 episode)
2001
The Fearing Mind
Irene's mother · (1 episode)
2000
Strong Medicine
Evelyn Knightly · (1 episode)
2000
The Last Great Ride
Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
1999
Will & Grace
Zandra · (6 episodes)
1998
Pants on Fire
Mom
1998
Toothless
Joe #1
1997
The Wonderful World of Disney
Joe #1 · (1 episode)
1997
Veronica's Closet
Grammy Anderson · (1 episode)
1997
Changing Habits
Mother Superior
1997
Boys Life 2
Mrs. Randozza
1997
If These Walls Could Talk
Tessie
1996
7th Heaven
Mrs. Bink · (9 episodes)
1996
Reckless
Sister Margaret
1995
Trail of Tears
Clara
1995
Freaky Friday
Principal Handel
1995
The Lies Boys Tell
Sada
1994
In Search of Dr. Seuss
The Who-Villain
1994
Nunzio's Second Cousin
Mrs. Randazzo
1994
Touched by an Angel
Dolores Freeman · (1 episode)
1994
ER
Betty · (3 episodes)
1994
My Name Is Kate
Barbara Mannix
1994
Precious Victims
Minnie
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Joelle · (1 episode)
1993
Recycle Rex
Rose (voice)
1993
Murder So Sweet
Martha Catlin
1993
Mad About You
Inspector #10 · (1 episode)
1992
Jack's Place
(1 episode)
1992
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Frieda
1992
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Vicky Martin
1992
Home Improvement
Wanda · (1 episode)
1991
Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas
Self
1991
Deadly Intentions... Again?
Charlotte
1991
White Palace
Judy
1990
Texasville
Genevieve Morgan
1990
American Dreamer
(1 episode)
1990
Gravedale High
Miss Dirge (voice) · (2 episodes)
1990
Stella
Mrs. Wilkerson
1990
It Had to Be You
Judith
1989
Tales from the Crypt
Ruth Sanderson · (1 episode)
1989
Going to the Chapel
Maude
1988
Sticky Fingers
Stella
1988
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Miss Bannister
1988
Rented Lips
Hotel Desk Clerk
1987
thirtysomething
(1 episode)
1987
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
Sylvia
1987
The Fartiste
1987
Babes in Toyland
Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
1986
The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986
Clue
Mrs. Peacock
1985
The History of White People in America
1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Mrs. Annabelle Shrike · (1 episode)
1985
The Fourth Wise Man
Judith
1985
Off the Rack
Kate Halloran · (6 episodes)
1985
Answers
Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Loretta Lee · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Marian Simpson · (1 episode)
1984
The Funny Farm
Gail Corbin
1983
Newhart
(2 episodes)
1982
Lily for President?
Maggie
1982
Working
Millworker
1982
Pandemonium
Candy's Mom
1982
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
Aunt Angelique Lane
1982
Incident at Crestridge
Sara Davis
1981
Private Benjamin
Doreen Lewis · (39 episodes)
1981
When the Circus Came to Town
Jessy
1981
Magnum, P.I.
(1 episode)
1980
Private Benjamin
Capt. Doreen Lewis
1980
My Old Man
Marie
1979
When She Was Bad...
Mary Jensen
1979
A New Kind of Family
(11 episodes)
1979
13 Queens Blvd.
Felicia Winters · (9 episodes)
1979
Taxi
Mrs. McKenzie · (1 episode)
1978
The Cheap Detective
Betty DeBoop
1978
The Great Smokey Roadblock
Penelope
1978
FM
Mother
1978
Black Beauty
Annie Gray · (5 episodes)
1978
All That Glitters
(54 episodes)
1977
The Death of Richie
Carol Werner
1977
Murder by Death
Tess Skeffington
1976
Hustle
Paula Hollinger
1975
The Night That Panicked America
Ann Muldoon
1975
Doctors' Hospital
(1 episode)
1975
Knuckle
Delafield's Mistress
1975
My Father's House
Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
1975
At Long Last Love
Elizabeth
1975
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
Nourish the Beast
Baba Goya
1974
Daisy Miller
Mrs. Walker
1974
Come Die With Me
1974
The Sting
Billie
1973
The Blue Knight
Glenda
1973
Kojak
Julie Loring · (1 episode)
1973
Scarecrow
Darlene
1973
Barnaby Jones
Anita Willson · (1 episode)
1973
Playmates
Amy
1972
The Last Picture Show
Genevieve
1971
McMillan & Wife
Nora Dane · (1 episode)
1971
All in the Family
Angelique McCarthy · (1 episode)
1971
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (16 episodes)
1968
Divorce American Style
Eunice Tase
1967
The Star Wagon
Hallie
1966
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner · (1 episode)
1944