Eileen Brennan
Acting • Born 1932-09-03 – Died 2013-07-28
Biography
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
115 credits
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Movie • 2005
Carol Fields
Private Benjamin
Movie • 1980
Capt. Doreen Lewis
Daisy Miller
Movie • 1974
Mrs. Walker
At Long Last Love
Movie • 1975
Elizabeth
Knuckle
Movie • 1975
Delafield's Mistress
Hustle
Movie • 1975
Paula Hollinger
Murder by Death
Movie • 1976
Tess Skeffington
Scarecrow
Movie • 1973
Darlene
Jeepers Creepers
Movie • 2001
The Cat Lady
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Sting
Movie • 1973
Billie
Babes in Toyland
Movie • 1986
Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
White Palace
Movie • 1990
Judy
If These Walls Could Talk
Movie • 1996
Tessie
The Hollow
Movie • 2004
Joan Van Etten
FM
Movie • 1978
Mother
The Great Smokey Roadblock
Movie • 1978
Penelope
Comic Book Villains
Movie • 2002
Mrs. Cresswell
The Cheap Detective
Movie • 1978
Betty DeBoop
Clue
Movie • 1985
Mrs. Peacock
In Search of Dr. Seuss
Movie • 1994
The Who-Villain
The Amateurs
Movie • 2006
Mrs. Cherkiss
Stella
Movie • 1990
Mrs. Wilkerson
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Movie • 1988
Miss Bannister
Boys Life 2
Movie • 1997
Mrs. Randozza
The Fourth Wise Man
Movie • 1985
Judith
Toothless
Movie • 1997
Joe #1
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Movie • 1992
Frieda
Lily for President?
Movie • 1982
Maggie
Pandemonium
Movie • 1982
Candy's Mom
Changing Habits
Movie • 1997
Mother Superior
Come Die with Me
Movie • 1974
Mary Thatcher
The Last Picture Show
Movie • 1971
Genevieve
The Lies Boys Tell
Movie • 1994
Sada
The Death of Richie
Movie • 1977
Carol Werner
The Blue Knight
Movie • 1973
Glenda
Dumb Luck
Movie • 2003
Minnie Hitchcock
Sticky Fingers
Movie • 1988
Stella
The Last Great Ride
Movie • 1999
Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
The History of White People in America
Movie • 1985
Texasville
Movie • 1990
Genevieve Morgan
Going to the Chapel
Movie • 1988
Maude
Answers
Movie • 1985
Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
Picture This
Movie • 1991
Self
The Art of 'The Sting'
Movie • 2005
Self
My Old Man
Movie • 1979
Marie
The Night That Panicked America
Movie • 1975
Ann Muldoon
Deadly Intentions... Again?
Movie • 1991
Charlotte
Recycle Rex
Movie • 1993
Rose (voice)
Pants on Fire
Movie • 1998
Mom
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
Movie • 1982
Aunt Angelique Lane
Trail of Tears
Movie • 1995
Clara
The Funny Farm
Movie • 1983
Gail Corbin
The Star Wagon
Movie • 1966
Hallie
My Name Is Kate
Movie • 1994
Barbara Mannix
It Had to Be You
Movie • 1989
Judith
Precious Victims
Movie • 1993
Minnie
The Fartiste
Movie • 1987
The History of White People in America: Volume II
Movie • 1986
Naked Run
Movie • 2011
Gram Malone
Working
Movie • 1982
Millworker
My Father's House
Movie • 1975
Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
Reckless
Movie • 1995
Sister Margaret
Nourish the Beast
Movie • 1974
Baba Goya
Rented Lips
Movie • 1988
Hotel Desk Clerk
When She Was Bad...
Movie • 1979
Mary Jensen
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Movie • 1992
Vicky Martin
Incident at Crestridge
Movie • 1981
Sara Davis
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
Movie • 1987
Sylvia
Nunzio's Second Cousin
Movie • 1994
Mrs. Randazzo
Divorce American Style
Movie • 1967
Eunice Tase
When the Circus Came to Town
Movie • 1981
Jessy
Playmates
Movie • 1972
Amy
Freaky Friday
Movie • 1995
Principal Handel
Murder So Sweet
Movie • 1993
Martha Catlin
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
Movie • 1998
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
Brenda Babcock
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Loretta Lee
Mad About You
TV • 1992
Inspector #10
American Dreamer
TV • 1990
thirtysomething
TV • 1987
Home Improvement
TV • 1991
Wanda
All in the Family
TV • 1971
Angelique McCarthy
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Ruth Sanderson
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV • 1993
Joelle
Newhart
TV • 1982
Kojak
TV • 1973
Julie Loring
A New Kind of Family
TV • 1979
The Ray Bradbury Theater
TV • 1985
Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
7th Heaven
TV • 1996
Mrs. Bink
Will & Grace
TV • 1998
Zandra
Lizzie McGuire
TV • 2001
Marge
ER
TV • 1994
Betty
Doctors' Hospital
TV • 1975
Off the Rack
TV • 1985
Kate Halloran
13 Queens Blvd.
TV • 1979
Felicia Winters
Private Benjamin
TV • 1981
Doreen Lewis
Jack's Place
TV • 1992
Taxi
TV • 1978
Mrs. McKenzie
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Marian Simpson
Black Beauty
TV • 1978
Annie Gray
McMillan & Wife
TV • 1971
Nora Dane
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Anita Willson
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1997
Joe #1
Strong Medicine
TV • 2000
Evelyn Knightly
Veronica's Closet
TV • 1997
Grammy Anderson
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Dolores Freeman
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee
Gravedale High
TV • 1990
Miss Dirge (voice)
The Blue Knight
TV • 1973
Glenda
All That Glitters
TV • 1977
Ma Packer
Arli$$
TV • 1996
Lenore