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