Eileen Brennan

Eileen Brennan

Acting
Born 1932-09-03 - Died 2013-07-28Los Angeles, California, USA

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.

Movies (76)

Clue
7.2

Clue

1985Movie7.2
Jeepers Creepers
6.5

Jeepers Creepers

2001Movie6.5
The Sting
8.0

The Sting

1973Movie8.0
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
5.7

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

2005Movie5.7
Murder by Death
7.1

Murder by Death

1976Movie7.1
The Last Picture Show
7.6

The Last Picture Show

1971Movie7.6
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
5.9

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

1988Movie5.9
White Palace
6.6

White Palace

1990Movie6.6
The Cheap Detective
6.3

The Cheap Detective

1978Movie6.3
Private Benjamin
6.0

Private Benjamin

1980Movie6.0
The Amateurs
5.6

The Amateurs

2006Movie5.6
The Funny Farm
6.0

The Funny Farm

1983Movie6.0
At Long Last Love
5.1

At Long Last Love

1975Movie5.1
If These Walls Could Talk
6.7

If These Walls Could Talk

1996Movie6.7
Scarecrow
7.0

Scarecrow

1973Movie7.0
Babes in Toyland
5.5

Babes in Toyland

1986Movie5.5
Toothless
5.5

Toothless

1997Movie5.5
Deadly Intentions... Again?
6.5

Deadly Intentions... Again?

1991Movie6.5
Murder So Sweet
6.0

Murder So Sweet

1993Movie6.0
Answers

Answers

1985Movie
Texasville
6.0

Texasville

1990Movie6.0
The Art of 'The Sting'
6.0

The Art of 'The Sting'

2005Movie6.0
Hustle
5.7

Hustle

1975Movie5.7
Picture This
9.5

Picture This

1991Movie9.5
Stella
5.8

Stella

1990Movie5.8
Changing Habits
2.6

Changing Habits

1997Movie2.6
Pandemonium
4.8

Pandemonium

1982Movie4.8
Divorce American Style
5.9

Divorce American Style

1967Movie5.9
Going to the Chapel
5.3

Going to the Chapel

1988Movie5.3
Comic Book Villains
5.2

Comic Book Villains

2002Movie5.2
The History of White People in America: Volume II
8.3

The History of White People in America: Volume II

1986Movie8.3
Daisy Miller
6.3

Daisy Miller

1974Movie6.3
The Star Wagon
7.0

The Star Wagon

1966Movie7.0
The Hollow
5.1

The Hollow

2004Movie5.1
Freaky Friday
5.7

Freaky Friday

1995Movie5.7
Recycle Rex
5.4

Recycle Rex

1993Movie5.4
The Fourth Wise Man
7.0

The Fourth Wise Man

1985Movie7.0
The History of White People in America
6.4

The History of White People in America

1985Movie6.4
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
8.0

Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife

1987Movie8.0
The Blue Knight
5.5

The Blue Knight

1973Movie5.5
Nunzio's Second Cousin
5.3

Nunzio's Second Cousin

1994Movie5.3
My Name Is Kate
6.4

My Name Is Kate

1994Movie6.4
Boys Life 2
5.5

Boys Life 2

1997Movie5.5
Sticky Fingers
5.8

Sticky Fingers

1988Movie5.8
Trail of Tears
5.0

Trail of Tears

1995Movie5.0
Pants on Fire
7.0

Pants on Fire

1998Movie7.0
When She Was Bad...
5.0

When She Was Bad...

1979Movie5.0
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
8.0

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story

1992Movie8.0
FM
6.8

FM

1978Movie6.8
Working
4.8

Working

1982Movie4.8
Dumb Luck
5.6

Dumb Luck

2003Movie5.6
The Night That Panicked America
6.9

The Night That Panicked America

1975Movie6.9
Incident at Crestridge
4.8

Incident at Crestridge

1981Movie4.8
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
5.2

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary

2022Movie5.2
The Great Smokey Roadblock
5.7

The Great Smokey Roadblock

1978Movie5.7
The Fartiste

The Fartiste

1987Movie
The Last Great Ride
6.0

The Last Great Ride

1999Movie6.0
My Father's House
9.0

My Father's House

1975Movie9.0
The Death of Richie
7.0

The Death of Richie

1977Movie7.0
Come Die with Me
6.0

Come Die with Me

1974Movie6.0
Naked Run
2.0

Naked Run

2011Movie2.0
Lily for President?

Lily for President?

1982Movie
Precious Victims
7.0

Precious Victims

1993Movie7.0
When the Circus Came to Town
7.3

When the Circus Came to Town

1981Movie7.3
My Old Man
5.3

My Old Man

1979Movie5.3
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
8.0

Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary

1982Movie8.0
Reckless
6.6

Reckless

1995Movie6.6
Rented Lips
3.8

Rented Lips

1988Movie3.8
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
7.0

Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste

1998Movie7.0
Knuckle
8.0

Knuckle

1975Movie8.0
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
5.0

I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore

1992Movie5.0
Nourish the Beast
8.0

Nourish the Beast

1974Movie8.0
Playmates
10.0

Playmates

1972Movie10.0
In Search of Dr. Seuss
6.8

In Search of Dr. Seuss

1994Movie6.8
It Had to Be You
9.0

It Had to Be You

1989Movie9.0
The Lies Boys Tell
6.3

The Lies Boys Tell

1994Movie6.3

TV Shows (39)

Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
ER
7.8

ER

1994Series7.8
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Mad About You
6.8

Mad About You

1992Series6.8
American Playhouse
6.6

American Playhouse

1982Series6.6
Magnum, P.I.
7.3

Magnum, P.I.

1980Series7.3
Will & Grace
6.9

Will & Grace

1998Series6.9
Newhart
7.2

Newhart

1982Series7.2
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Strong Medicine
7.4

Strong Medicine

2000Series7.4
Home Improvement
7.4

Home Improvement

1991Series7.4
Taxi
7.3

Taxi

1978Series7.3
Tales from the Crypt
8.0

Tales from the Crypt

1989Series8.0
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
Walker, Texas Ranger
7.0

Walker, Texas Ranger

1993Series7.0
Barnaby Jones
7.1

Barnaby Jones

1973Series7.1
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
7th Heaven
6.4

7th Heaven

1996Series6.4
All in the Family
7.8

All in the Family

1971Series7.8
thirtysomething
6.3

thirtysomething

1987Series6.3
Arli$$
6.9

Arli$$

1996Series6.9
The Wonderful World of Disney
6.9

The Wonderful World of Disney

1997Series6.9
Lizzie McGuire
7.2

Lizzie McGuire

2001Series7.2
The Ray Bradbury Theater
6.9

The Ray Bradbury Theater

1985Series6.9
Kojak
7.2

Kojak

1973Series7.2
McMillan & Wife
7.1

McMillan & Wife

1971Series7.1
NET Playhouse
7.3

NET Playhouse

1966Series7.3
Veronica's Closet
5.4

Veronica's Closet

1997Series5.4
All That Glitters
8.5

All That Glitters

1977Series8.5
Gravedale High
7.0

Gravedale High

1990Series7.0
Private Benjamin
6.5

Private Benjamin

1981Series6.5
American Dreamer
5.3

American Dreamer

1990Series5.3
Doctors' Hospital
7.0

Doctors' Hospital

1975Series7.0
Jack's Place
8.0

Jack's Place

1992Series8.0
13 Queens Blvd.
8.0

13 Queens Blvd.

1979Series8.0
Black Beauty
7.0

Black Beauty

1978Series7.0
Off the Rack
6.0

Off the Rack

1985Series6.0
A New Kind of Family
7.5

A New Kind of Family

1979Series7.5
The Blue Knight
5.0

The Blue Knight

1973Series5.0