
Eileen Brennan
Known for Acting · 113 credits
- Born
- 1932-09-03
- Died
- 2013-07-28
- Place of birth
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Also known as
- 艾琳·布伦南 · Verla Eileen Regina Brennan · Verla Eileen Regina Brennen · آیلین برنان
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.
Known For
TV Shows (37)

ER
1994
as Betty

Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Loretta Lee / Marian Simpson

Golden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter / Self - Nominee

Magnum, P.I.
1980
as Brenda Babcock

Will & Grace
1998
as Zandra

Home Improvement
1991
as Wanda

Mad About You
1992
as Inspector #10

The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self

Strong Medicine
2000
as Evelyn Knightly

Touched by an Angel
1994
as Dolores Freeman

Taxi
1978
as Mrs. McKenzie

Newhart
1982

Tales from the Crypt
1989
as Ruth Sanderson

Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Joelle

Barnaby Jones
1973
as Anita Willson

7th Heaven
1996
as Mrs. Bink

Kojak
1973
as Julie Loring

Arli$$
1996
as Lenore

thirtysomething
1987

All in the Family
1971
as Angelique McCarthy

Dinah!
1974
as Self

The Wonderful World of Disney
1997
as Joe #1

The Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike

McMillan & Wife
1971
as Nora Dane

Lizzie McGuire
2001
as Marge

Veronica's Closet
1997
as Grammy Anderson
All That Glitters
1977
as Ma Packer

Gravedale High
1990
as Miss Dirge (voice)

Jack's Place
1992

American Dreamer
1990

Private Benjamin
1981
as Doreen Lewis

Doctors' Hospital
1975

Black Beauty
1978
as Annie Gray

A New Kind of Family
1979

Off the Rack
1985
as Kate Halloran

The Blue Knight
1973
as Glenda

13 Queens Blvd.
1979
as Felicia Winters
Movies (76)

Jeepers Creepers
2001
as The Cat Lady

Clue
1985
as Mrs. Peacock

The Sting
1973
as Billie

White Palace
1990
as Judy

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005
as Carol Fields

The Last Picture Show
1971
as Genevieve

Murder by Death
1976
as Tess Skeffington

Scarecrow
1973
as Darlene

Toothless
1997
as Joe #1

If These Walls Could Talk
1996
as Tessie

Private Benjamin
1980
as Capt. Doreen Lewis

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
1988
as Miss Bannister

Stella
1990
as Mrs. Wilkerson

The Cheap Detective
1978
as Betty DeBoop

FM
1978
as Mother

Hustle
1975
as Paula Hollinger

Babes in Toyland
1986
as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard

The Amateurs
2006
as Mrs. Cherkiss

The Night That Panicked America
1975
as Ann Muldoon

Reckless
1995
as Sister Margaret

Texasville
1990
as Genevieve Morgan

Freaky Friday
1995
as Principal Handel

The Fourth Wise Man
1985
as Judith

When She Was Bad...
1979
as Mary Jensen

Pandemonium
1982
as Candy's Mom

Comic Book Villains
2002
as Mrs. Cresswell

Divorce American Style
1967
as Eunice

Murder So Sweet
1993
as Martha Catlin

Daisy Miller
1974
as Mrs. Walker

The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986

Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
1987
as Sylvia

At Long Last Love
1975
as Elizabeth

The Great Smokey Roadblock
1978
as Penelope

The Hollow
2004
as Joan Van Etten

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992
as Vicky Martin

Naked Run
2011
as Gram Malone

Deadly Intentions... Again?
1991
as Charlotte

Working
1982
as Millworker

The Blue Knight
1973
as Glenda

Sticky Fingers
1988
as Stella

Boys Life 2
1997
as Mrs. Randozza

Incident at Crestridge
1981
as Sara Davis

The History of White People in America
1985

Picture This
1991
as Self

Pants on Fire
1998
as Mom

Rented Lips
1988
as Hotel Desk Clerk

Lily for President?
1982
as Maggie

Going to the Chapel
1988
as Maude

My Father's House
1975
as Mrs. Lindholm Sr.

Precious Victims
1993
as Minnie

Trail of Tears
1995
as Clara

Playmates
1972
as Amy

Answers
1985
as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
2022
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Death of Richie
1977
as Carol Werner

The Art of 'The Sting'
2005
as Self

I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
1992
as Frieda

In Search of Dr. Seuss
1994
as The Who-Villain

The Lies Boys Tell
1994
as Sada

My Name Is Kate
1994
as Barbara Mannix

The Funny Farm
1983
as Gail Corbin

Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
1982
as Aunt Angelique Lane

Nunzio's Second Cousin
1994
as Mrs. Randazzo

Changing Habits
1997
as Mother Superior

Recycle Rex
1993
as Rose (voice)

Nourish the Beast
1974
as Baba Goya

My Old Man
1979
as Marie

The Star Wagon
1966
as Hallie

Come Die with Me
1974
as Mary Thatcher

The Last Great Ride
1999
as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate

The Fartiste
1987

Dumb Luck
2003
as Minnie Hitchcock

When the Circus Came to Town
1981
as Jessy

Knuckle
1975
as Delafield's Mistress
It Had to Be You
1989
as Judith
Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998
About Eileen Brennan
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… With 113 credits spanning from 1944 to 2022, Eileen Brennan has appeared in 76 films and 37 TV shows.
Fans searching for Eileen Brennan movies, Eileen Brennan filmography, or the latest projects starring Eileen Brennan can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Eileen Brennan Movies
- Jeepers Creepers (2001) — as The Cat Lady
- Clue (1985) — as Mrs. Peacock
- The Sting (1973) — as Billie
- White Palace (1990) — as Judy
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) — as Carol Fields
Where to Watch Eileen Brennan Films
Most Eileen Brennan movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Eileen Brennan, check our movies catalogue and browse page.