Eileen Brennan
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Loretta Lee
1984
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Marian Simpson
1984
Series
ER
Betty
1994
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Home Improvement
Wanda
1991
Series
Magnum, P.I.
Brenda Babcock
1980
Series
Strong Medicine
Evelyn Knightly
2000
Series
Will & Grace
Zandra
1998
Series
Newhart
1982
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
Taxi
Mrs. McKenzie
1978
Series
Touched by an Angel
Dolores Freeman
1994
Series
Mad About You
Inspector #10
1992
Series
Tales from the Crypt
Ruth Sanderson
1989
Series
Walker, Texas Ranger
Joelle
1993
Series
American Playhouse
Millworker
1982
Series
Arli$$
Lenore
1996
Series
Barnaby Jones
Anita Willson
1973
Series
7th Heaven
Mrs. Bink
1996
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Joe #1
1997
Series
thirtysomething
1987
Series
All in the Family
Angelique McCarthy
1971
Series
Kojak
Julie Loring
1973
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
Lizzie McGuire
Marge
2001
Series
McMillan & Wife
Nora Dane
1971
Series
Veronica's Closet
Grammy Anderson
1997
Film
The Sting
Billie
1973
Series
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
1985
Film
Jeepers Creepers
The Cat Lady
2001
Film
Clue
Mrs. Peacock
1985
Series
NET Playhouse
Hallie Arlington
1966
Film
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Carol Fields
2005
Series
Private Benjamin
Doreen Lewis
1981
Series
Gravedale High
Miss Dirge (voice)
1990
Film
The Last Picture Show
Genevieve
1971
Series
Jack's Place
1992
Series
American Dreamer
1990
Film
White Palace
Judy
1990
Series
Doctors' Hospital
1975
Film
Murder by Death
Tess Skeffington
1976
Film
Private Benjamin
Capt. Doreen Lewis
1980
Series
All That Glitters
Ma Packer
1977
Series
The Blue Knight
Glenda
1973
Series
Black Beauty
Annie Gray
1978
Film
Scarecrow
Darlene
1973
Film
The Cheap Detective
Betty DeBoop
1978
Film
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Miss Bannister
1988
Film
If These Walls Could Talk
Tessie
1996
Series
A New Kind of Family
1979
Film
Toothless
Joe #1
1997
Film
Babes in Toyland
Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
1986
Film
The Amateurs
Mrs. Cherkiss
2006
Film
Reckless
Sister Margaret
1995
Film
When She Was Bad...
Mary Jensen
1979
Film
The Art of 'The Sting'
Self
2005
Film
Recycle Rex
Rose (voice)
1993
Series
13 Queens Blvd.
Felicia Winters
1979
Film
Daisy Miller
Mrs. Walker
1974
Film
Picture This
Self
1991
Film
Divorce American Style
Eunice
1967
Series
Off the Rack
Kate Halloran
1985
Film
Hustle
Paula Hollinger
1975
Film
Freaky Friday
Principal Handel
1995
Film
The Fourth Wise Man
Judith
1985
Film
Pandemonium
Candy's Mom
1982
Film
Answers
Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
1985
Film
The Hollow
Joan Van Etten
2004
Film
Nunzio's Second Cousin
Mrs. Randazzo
1994
Film
Comic Book Villains
Mrs. Cresswell
2002
Film
Stella
Mrs. Wilkerson
1990
Film
The Death of Richie
Carol Werner
1977
Film
In Search of Dr. Seuss
The Who-Villain
1994
Film
The Blue Knight
Glenda
1973
Film
Texasville
Genevieve Morgan
1990
Film
FM
Mother
1978
Film
Deadly Intentions... Again?
Charlotte
1991
Film
At Long Last Love
Elizabeth
1975
Film
Sticky Fingers
Stella
1988
Film
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Frieda
1992
Film
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
Sylvia
1987
Film
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Film
Incident at Crestridge
Sara Davis
1981
Film
The History of White People in America
1985
Film
The Star Wagon
Hallie
1966
Film
The Great Smokey Roadblock
Penelope
1978
Film
The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986
Film
Going to the Chapel
Maude
1988
Film
The Night That Panicked America
Ann Muldoon
1975
Film
When the Circus Came to Town
Jessy
1981
Film
My Name Is Kate
Barbara Mannix
1994
Film
Murder So Sweet
Martha Catlin
1993
Film
Boys Life 2
Mrs. Randozza
1997
Film
Lily for President?
Maggie
1982
Film
The Funny Farm
Gail Corbin
1983
Film
Naked Run
Gram Malone
2011
Film
Dumb Luck
Minnie Hitchcock
2003
Film
Working
Millworker
1982
Film
Changing Habits
Mother Superior
1997
Film
Come Die with Me
Mary Thatcher
1974
Film
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Vicky Martin
1992
Film
Rented Lips
Hotel Desk Clerk
1988
Film
Trail of Tears
Clara
1995
Film
The Last Great Ride
Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
1999
Film
Precious Victims
Minnie
1993
Film
My Old Man
Marie
1979
Film
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
Aunt Angelique Lane
1982
Film
The Lies Boys Tell
Sada
1994
Film
Playmates
Amy
1972
Film
The Fartiste
1987
Film
Knuckle
Delafield's Mistress
1975
It Had to Be You
Judith
1989
Film
Pants on Fire
Mom
1998
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998
Film
My Father's House
Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
1975
Film
Nourish the Beast
Baba Goya
1974