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