Eileen Brennan
Eileen Brennan
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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
116
Gender
Female
Birthday
1932-09-03 (92 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Acting

2022

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2011

Naked Run as Gram Malone

2006

The Amateurs as Mrs. Cherkiss

2004

The Hollow as Joan Van Etten

2003

Dumb Luck as Minnie Hitchcock

2002

Comic Book Villains as Mrs. Cresswell

2001

Lizzie McGuire as Marge

2001

Jeepers Creepers as The Cat Lady

2000

Strong Medicine as Evelyn Knightly

2000

The Fearing Mind as Irene's mother

1999

The Last Great Ride as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate

1998

Will & Grace as Zandra

1998

Pants on Fire as Mom

1997

Veronica's Closet as Grammy Anderson

1997

Toothless as Joe #1

1997

Boys Life 2 as Mrs. Randozza

1997

Changing Habits as Mother Superior

1996

7th Heaven as Mrs. Bink

1995

Freaky Friday as Principal Handel

1995

Reckless as Sister Margaret

1995

Trail of Tears as Clara

1994

Touched by an Angel as Dolores Freeman

1994

ER as Betty

1994

Nunzio's Second Cousin as Mrs. Randazzo

1994

In Search of Dr. Seuss as The Who-Villain

1994

My Name Is Kate as Barbara Mannix

1994

The Lies Boys Tell as Sada

1993

Walker, Texas Ranger as Joelle

1993

Recycle Rex as Rose (voice)

1993

Precious Victims as Minnie

1992

Mad About You as Inspector #10

1992

Jack's Place as Not available

1991

Home Improvement as Wanda

1991

Deadly Intentions... Again? as Charlotte

1990

White Palace as Judy

1990

American Dreamer as Not available

1990

Gravedale High as Not available

1990

Stella as Mrs. Wilkerson

1990

Texasville as Genevieve Morgan

1989

Tales from the Crypt as Ruth Sanderson

1989

It Had to Be You as Judith

1988

Sticky Fingers as Stella

1988

Going to the Chapel as Maude

1987

thirtysomething as Not available

1987

Rented Lips as Hotel Desk Clerk

1987

The Fartiste as Not available

1986

Babes in Toyland as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard

1985

The Ray Bradbury Theater as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike

1985

Clue as Mrs. Peacock

1985

Off the Rack as Kate Halloran

1985

The Fourth Wise Man as Judith

1985

Answers as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")

1984

Murder, She Wrote as Loretta Lee

1984

Murder, She Wrote as Marian Simpson

1983

The Funny Farm as Gail Corbin

1982

Newhart as Not available

1982

Working as Millworker

1982

Pandemonium as Candy's Mom

1982

Lily for President? as Maggie

1981

Private Benjamin as Doreen Lewis

1981

Incident at Crestridge as Sara Davis

1980

Magnum, P.I. as Not available

1980

Private Benjamin as Capt. Doreen Lewis

1979

13 Queens Blvd. as Felicia Winters

1979

A New Kind of Family as Not available

1979

My Old Man as Marie

1979

When She Was Bad... as Mary Jensen

1978

Taxi as Mrs. McKenzie

1978

Black Beauty as Annie Gray

1978

The Cheap Detective as Betty DeBoop

1978

FM as Mother

1977

All That Glitters as Not available

1977

The Death of Richie as Carol Werner

1976

Murder by Death as Tess Skeffington

1975

Hustle as Paula Hollinger

1975

Doctors' Hospital as Not available

1975

At Long Last Love as Elizabeth

1975

My Father's House as Mrs. Lindholm Sr.

1975

Knuckle as Delafield's Mistress

1974

Dinah! as Self

1974

Daisy Miller as Mrs. Walker

1974

Come Die With Me as Not available

1974

Nourish the Beast as Baba Goya

1973

Barnaby Jones as Anita Willson

1973

Kojak as Julie Loring

1973

The Sting as Billie

1973

Scarecrow as Darlene

1973

The Blue Knight as Glenda

1972

Playmates as Amy

1971

All in the Family as Angelique McCarthy

1971

McMillan & Wife as Nora Dane

1971

The Last Picture Show as Genevieve

1967

Divorce American Style as Eunice Tase

1966

The Star Wagon as Hallie

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Presenter

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Winner
Crew

2011

Miller's Tale Additional Music

2006

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Writer

1978

Taxi Producer