Cast & creator
Eileen Brennan
Best known for The Merv Griffin Show, ER, Magnum, P.I.
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.
Also known as: 艾琳·布伦南, Verla Eileen Regina Brennan, Verla Eileen Regina Brennen, آیلین برنان
77
film credits
42
television credits
117
1944–2022 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (119)
Showing 119 of 119 credits
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
ER
Betty
1994
Magnum, P.I.
Brenda Babcock
1980
Will & Grace
Zandra
1998
Murder, She Wrote
Loretta Lee
1984Murder, She Wrote
Marian Simpson
1984
Mad About You
Inspector #10
1992
Strong Medicine
Evelyn Knightly
2000
Touched by an Angel
Dolores Freeman
1994
Home Improvement
Wanda
1991
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
American Playhouse
Millworker
1982
Taxi
Mrs. McKenzie
1978
Arli$$
Lenore
1996
Newhart
1982
Walker, Texas Ranger
Joelle
1993
All in the Family
Angelique McCarthy
1971
Tales from the Crypt
Ruth Sanderson
1989
Dinah!
Self
1974
7th Heaven
Mrs. Bink
1996
Barnaby Jones
Anita Willson
1973
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
Writer
2006
thirtysomething
1987
Kojak
Julie Loring
1973
The Wonderful World of Disney
Joe #1
1997
Lizzie McGuire
Marge
2001
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
1985
Veronica's Closet
Grammy Anderson
1997
McMillan & Wife
Nora Dane
1971
Jeepers Creepers
The Cat Lady
2001
The Sting
Billie
1973
NET Playhouse
Hallie Arlington
1966
Clue
Mrs. Peacock
1985
Gravedale High
Miss Dirge (voice)
1990
All That Glitters
Ma Packer
1977
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Carol Fields
2005
Jack's Place
1992
The Last Picture Show
Genevieve
1971
Murder by Death
Tess Skeffington
1976
Private Benjamin
Doreen Lewis
1981
Doctors' Hospital
1975
American Dreamer
1990
A New Kind of Family
1979
Private Benjamin
Capt. Doreen Lewis
1980
Black Beauty
Annie Gray
1978
White Palace
Judy
1990
The Blue Knight
Glenda
1973
Picture This
Self
1991
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Miss Bannister
1988
The Cheap Detective
Betty DeBoop
1978
13 Queens Blvd.
Felicia Winters
1979
If These Walls Could Talk
Tessie
1996
Scarecrow
Darlene
1973
Off the Rack
Kate Halloran
1985
Babes in Toyland
Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
1986
The Amateurs
Mrs. Cherkiss
2006
Toothless
Joe #1
1997
At Long Last Love
Elizabeth
1975
Hustle
Paula Hollinger
1975
Recycle Rex
Rose (voice)
1993
The Death of Richie
Carol Werner
1977
Nunzio's Second Cousin
Mrs. Randazzo
1994
When She Was Bad...
Mary Jensen
1979
The Fourth Wise Man
Judith
1985
The Blue Knight
Glenda
1973
The Night That Panicked America
Ann Muldoon
1975
Comic Book Villains
Mrs. Cresswell
2002
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Daisy Miller
Mrs. Walker
1974
The Great Smokey Roadblock
Penelope
1978
Answers
Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
1985
Divorce American Style
Eunice
1967
Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife
Sylvia
1987
Sticky Fingers
Stella
1988
Stella
Mrs. Wilkerson
1990
Come Die with Me
Mary Thatcher
1974
My Father's House
Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
1975
The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986
Freaky Friday
Principal Handel
1995
The Art of 'The Sting'
Self
2005
The Hollow
Joan Van Etten
2004
Rented Lips
Hotel Desk Clerk
1988
Going to the Chapel
Maude
1988
My Name Is Kate
Barbara Mannix
1994
The Star Wagon
Hallie
1966
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary
Aunt Angelique Lane
1982
Reckless
Sister Margaret
1995
Boys Life 2
Mrs. Randozza
1997
Texasville
Genevieve Morgan
1990
Pandemonium
Candy's Mom
1982
Miller's Tale
Additional Music
2011
FM
Mother
1978
I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Frieda
1992
When the Circus Came to Town
Jessy
1981
The Lies Boys Tell
Sada
1994
The History of White People in America
1985
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Vicky Martin
1992
The Funny Farm
Gail Corbin
1983
Lily for President?
Maggie
1982
Working
Millworker
1982
Nourish the Beast
Baba Goya
1974It Had to Be You
Judith
1989
The Last Great Ride
Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
1999Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste
1998
Deadly Intentions... Again?
Charlotte
1991
Murder So Sweet
Martha Catlin
1993
Naked Run
Gram Malone
2011
Changing Habits
Mother Superior
1997
Precious Victims
Minnie
1993
Incident at Crestridge
Sara Davis
1981
The Fartiste
1987
My Old Man
Marie
1979
In Search of Dr. Seuss
The Who-Villain
1994
Playmates
Amy
1972
Trail of Tears
Clara
1995
Dumb Luck
Minnie Hitchcock
2003
Knuckle
Delafield's Mistress
1975
Pants on Fire
Mom
1998