Acting · Los Angeles, California, USA · Born September 3, 1932
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.
MovieWho Done It: The Clue Documentary
2022
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieNaked Run
2011
as Gram Malone
MovieThe Amateurs
2006
as Mrs. Cherkiss
MovieThe Art of 'The Sting'
2005
as Self
MovieMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005
as Carol Fields
MovieThe Hollow
2004
as Joan Van Etten
MovieDumb Luck
2003
as Minnie Hitchcock
MovieComic Book Villains
2002
as Mrs. Cresswell
MovieJeepers Creepers
2001
as The Cat Lady
TVLizzie McGuire
2001
as Marge
TVStrong Medicine
2000
as Evelyn Knightly
MovieThe Last Great Ride
1999
as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
TVWill & Grace
1998
as Zandra
MoviePants on Fire
1998
as Mom
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998
MovieToothless
1997
as Joe #1
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1997
as Joe #1
TVVeronica's Closet
1997
as Grammy Anderson
MovieChanging Habits
1997
as Mother Superior
MovieBoys Life 2
1997
as Mrs. Randozza
MovieIf These Walls Could Talk
1996
as Tessie
TV7th Heaven
1996
as Mrs. Bink
TVArli$$
1996
as Lenore
MovieReckless
1995
as Sister Margaret
MovieTrail of Tears
1995
as Clara
MovieFreaky Friday
1995
as Principal Handel
MovieThe Lies Boys Tell
1994
as Sada
MovieIn Search of Dr. Seuss
1994
as The Who-Villain
MovieNunzio's Second Cousin
1994
as Mrs. Randazzo
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Dolores Freeman
TVER
1994
as Betty
MovieMy Name Is Kate
1994
as Barbara Mannix
MoviePrecious Victims
1993
as Minnie
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Joelle
MovieRecycle Rex
1993
as Rose (voice)
MovieMurder So Sweet
1993
as Martha Catlin
TVMad About You
1992
as Inspector #10
TVJack's Place
1992
MovieI Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992
as Frieda
MovieTaking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992
as Vicky Martin
TVHome Improvement
1991
as Wanda
MoviePicture This
1991
as Self
MovieDeadly Intentions... Again?
1991
as Charlotte
MovieWhite Palace
1990
as Judy
MovieTexasville
1990
as Genevieve Morgan
TVAmerican Dreamer
1990
TVGravedale High
1990
as Miss Dirge (voice)
MovieStella
1990
as Mrs. Wilkerson
It Had to Be You
1989
as Judith
TVTales from the Crypt
1989
as Ruth Sanderson
MovieGoing to the Chapel
1988
as Maude
MovieRented Lips
1988
as Hotel Desk Clerk
MovieSticky Fingers
1988
as Stella
MovieThe New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
1988
as Miss Bannister
TVthirtysomething
1987
MovieBlood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
1987
as Sylvia
MovieThe Fartiste
1987
MovieBabes in Toyland
1986
as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
MovieThe History of White People in America: Volume II
1986
MovieClue
1985
as Mrs. Peacock
MovieThe History of White People in America
1985
TVThe Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
MovieAnswers
1985
as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
MovieThe Fourth Wise Man
1985
as Judith
TVOff the Rack
1985
as Kate Halloran
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Loretta Lee
MovieThe Funny Farm
1983
as Gail Corbin
TVNewhart
1982
MovieLily for President?
1982
as Maggie
MovieWorking
1982
as Millworker
MoviePandemonium
1982
as Candy's Mom
MovieKraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
1982
as Aunt Angelique Lane
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Millworker
MovieIncident at Crestridge
1981
as Sara Davis
TVPrivate Benjamin
1981
as Doreen Lewis
MovieWhen the Circus Came to Town
1981
as Jessy
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as Brenda Babcock
MoviePrivate Benjamin
1980
as Capt. Doreen Lewis
MovieMy Old Man
1979
as Marie
MovieWhen She Was Bad...
1979
as Mary Jensen
TVA New Kind of Family
1979
TV13 Queens Blvd.
1979
as Felicia Winters
TVTaxi
1978
as Mrs. McKenzie
MovieThe Cheap Detective
1978
as Betty DeBoop
MovieThe Great Smokey Roadblock
1978
as Penelope
MovieFM
1978
as Mother
TVBlack Beauty
1978
as Annie Gray
TVAll That Glitters
1977
as Ma Packer
MovieThe Death of Richie
1977
as Carol Werner
MovieMurder by Death
1976
as Tess Skeffington
MovieHustle
1975
as Paula Hollinger
MovieThe Night That Panicked America
1975
as Ann Muldoon
TVDoctors' Hospital
1975
MovieKnuckle
1975
as Delafield's Mistress
MovieMy Father's House
1975
as Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
MovieAt Long Last Love
1975
as Elizabeth
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
MovieNourish the Beast
1974
as Baba Goya
MovieDaisy Miller
1974
as Mrs. Walker
MovieCome Die with Me
1974
as Mary Thatcher
MovieThe Sting
1973
as Billie
MovieThe Blue Knight
1973
as Glenda
TVThe Blue Knight
1973
as Glenda
TVKojak
1973
as Julie Loring
MovieScarecrow
1973
as Darlene
TVBarnaby Jones
1973
as Anita Willson
MoviePlaymates
1972
as Amy
MovieThe Last Picture Show
1971
as Genevieve
TVMcMillan & Wife
1971
as Nora Dane
TVAll in the Family
1971
as Angelique McCarthy
MovieDivorce American Style
1967
as Eunice
MovieThe Star Wagon
1966
as Hallie
TVNET Playhouse
1966
as Hallie Arlington
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
