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