Biography
Eileen Brennan (September 3, 1932 β 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 (114)
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
2022
Naked Run
2011
The Amateurs
2006
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005
The Art of 'The Sting'
2005
The Hollow
2004
Dumb Luck
2003
Comic Book Villains
2002
Jeepers Creepers
2001
Lizzie McGuire
2001
Strong Medicine
2000
The Last Great Ride
1999
Pants on Fire
1998
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998
Will & Grace
1998
Boys Life 2
1997
Toothless
1997
Changing Habits
1997
The Wonderful World of Disney
1997
Veronica's Closet
1997
If These Walls Could Talk
1996
7th Heaven
1996
Arli$$
1996
Trail of Tears
1995
Reckless
1995
Freaky Friday
1995
In Search of Dr. Seuss
1994
The Lies Boys Tell
1994
My Name Is Kate
1994
Nunzio's Second Cousin
1994
ER
1994
Touched by an Angel
1994
Recycle Rex
1993
Precious Victims
1993
Murder So Sweet
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992
Mad About You
1992
Jack's Place
1992
Picture This
1991
Deadly Intentions... Again?
1991
Home Improvement
1991
White Palace
1990
Stella
1990
Texasville
1990
American Dreamer
1990
Gravedale High
1990
It Had to Be You
1989
Tales from the Crypt
1989
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
1988
Sticky Fingers
1988
Going to the Chapel
1988
Rented Lips
1988
The Fartiste
1987
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
1987
thirtysomething
1987
Babes in Toyland
1986
The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986
Clue
1985
The Fourth Wise Man
1985
The History of White People in America
1985
Answers
1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
Off the Rack
1985
Murder, She Wrote
1984
The Funny Farm
1983
Lily for President?
1982
Pandemonium
1982
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
1982
Working
1982
Newhart
1982
Incident at Crestridge
1981
When the Circus Came to Town
1981
Private Benjamin
1981
Private Benjamin
1980
Magnum, P.I.
1980
My Old Man
1979
When She Was Bad...
1979
A New Kind of Family
1979
13 Queens Blvd.
1979
FM
1978
The Great Smokey Roadblock
1978
The Cheap Detective
1978
Taxi
1978
Black Beauty
1978
The Death of Richie
1977
All That Glitters
1977
Murder by Death
1976
At Long Last Love
1975
Knuckle
1975
Hustle
1975
The Night That Panicked America
1975
My Father's House
1975
Doctors' Hospital
1975
Daisy Miller
1974
Come Die with Me
1974
Nourish the Beast
1974
Dinah!
1974
Scarecrow
1973
The Sting
1973
The Blue Knight
1973
Kojak
1973
Barnaby Jones
1973
The Blue Knight
1973
Playmates
1972
The Last Picture Show
1971
All in the Family
1971
McMillan & Wife
1971
Divorce American Style
1967
The Star Wagon
1966
NET Playhouse
1966
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
Golden Globe Awards
1944
English
EspaΓ±ol
Russian
