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.
76 movies · 39 shows
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
2022·4.9
Naked Run
2011·2.0
The Amateurs
2006·5.6
The Art of 'The Sting'
2005·6.0
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005·5.7
The Hollow
2004·5.1
Dumb Luck
2003·5.6
Comic Book Villains
2002·5.3
Jeepers Creepers
2001·6.5
The Last Great Ride
1999·6.0
Pants on Fire
1998·7.0
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998·7.0
Toothless
1997·5.5
Changing Habits
1997·2.6
Boys Life 2
1997·5.5
If These Walls Could Talk
1996·6.7
Reckless
1995·6.6
Trail of Tears
1995·5.0
Freaky Friday
1995·5.7
The Lies Boys Tell
1994·6.3
In Search of Dr. Seuss
1994·6.8
Nunzio's Second Cousin
1994·5.3
My Name Is Kate
1994·6.4
Precious Victims
1993·7.0
Recycle Rex
1993·5.7
Murder So Sweet
1993·6.0
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992·5.0
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992·8.0
Picture This
1991·9.5
Deadly Intentions... Again?
1991·6.5
White Palace
1990·6.6
Texasville
1990·6.0
Stella
1990·5.8
It Had to Be You
1989·9.0
Going to the Chapel
1988·5.3
Rented Lips
1988·3.8
Sticky Fingers
1988·5.8
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
1988·5.9
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
1987·8.0
The Fartiste
1987·0.0
Babes in Toyland
1986·5.5
The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986·8.3
Clue
1985·7.2
The History of White People in America
1985·6.4
Answers
1985·0.0
The Fourth Wise Man
1985·7.0
The Funny Farm
1983·6.0
Lily for President?
1982·0.0
Working
1982·4.8
Pandemonium
1982·4.7
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
1982·8.0
Incident at Crestridge
1981·4.8
When the Circus Came to Town
1981·7.3
Private Benjamin
1980·5.9
My Old Man
1979·5.3
When She Was Bad...
1979·5.0
The Cheap Detective
1978·6.4
The Great Smokey Roadblock
1978·5.7
FM
1978·6.8
The Death of Richie
1977·7.0
Murder by Death
1976·7.1
Hustle
1975·5.7
The Night That Panicked America
1975·6.9
Knuckle
1975·8.0
My Father's House
1975·9.0
At Long Last Love
1975·5.1
Nourish the Beast
1974·8.0
Daisy Miller
1974·6.3
Come Die with Me
1974·0.0
The Sting
1973·8.0
The Blue Knight
1973·5.5
Scarecrow
1973·7.1
Playmates
1972·10.0
The Last Picture Show
1971·7.6
Divorce American Style
1967·5.9
The Star Wagon
1966·7.0