Eileen Brennan
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- September 3, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA
- Died
- July 28, 2013
- Active Years
- 1944–2022 (79 Years)
- Total Credits
- 119 credits in database
Biography
Eileen Brennan was an American actress known for her versatile performances in film, television, and theater. Born in Los Angeles, California, she began her acting career in the theater, making her Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Little Mary Sunshine. She went on to appear in several other Broadway musicals, including Hello, Dolly. Brennan is also known for her film and television work, including her role in the 1980 comedy film Private Benjamin. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Mrs. Hughes in the television series Newhart.
Career overview
Eileen Brennan began her acting career in the theater, making her Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Little Mary Sunshine. She went on to appear in several other Broadway musicals, including Hello, Dolly!. Brennan's early work in theater laid the foundation for her future success in film and television.
Brennan transitioned to film and television, earning a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role 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 in the television series Newhart.
Throughout her career, Brennan accumulated a significant number of acting credits, with a total of 117 known credits. Her versatility as an actress allowed her to excel in a variety of roles, cementing her status as a talented performer in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
119 titles- Who Done It: The Clue Documentary (2022) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Miller's Tale (2011) Additional Music
- Naked Run (2011) as Gram Malone
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (2006) Writer
- The Amateurs (2006) as Mrs. Cherkiss
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) as Carol Fields
- The Art of 'The Sting' (2005) as Self
- The Hollow (2004) as Joan Van Etten
- Dumb Luck (2003) as Minnie Hitchcock
- Comic Book Villains (2002) as Mrs. Cresswell
- Lizzie McGuire (2001) as Marge
- Jeepers Creepers (2001) as The Cat Lady
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Evelyn Knightly
- The Last Great Ride (1999) as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
- Will & Grace (1998) as Zandra
- Pants on Fire (1998) as Mom
- Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste (1998)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1997) as Joe #1
- Veronica's Closet (1997) as Grammy Anderson
- Toothless (1997) as Joe #1
- Changing Habits (1997) as Mother Superior
- Boys Life 2 (1997) as Mrs. Randozza
- Arli$$ (1996) as Lenore
- 7th Heaven (1996) as Mrs. Bink
- If These Walls Could Talk (1996) as Tessie
- Freaky Friday (1995) as Principal Handel
- Reckless (1995) as Sister Margaret
- Trail of Tears (1995) as Clara
- ER (1994) as Betty
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Dolores Freeman
- Nunzio's Second Cousin (1994) as Mrs. Randazzo
- In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994) as The Who-Villain
- My Name Is Kate (1994) as Barbara Mannix
- The Lies Boys Tell (1994) as Sada
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Joelle
- Recycle Rex (1993) as Rose (voice)
- Precious Victims (1993) as Minnie
- Murder So Sweet (1993) as Martha Catlin
- Mad About You (1992) as Inspector #10
- Jack's Place (1992)
- I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore (1992) as Frieda
- Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992) as Vicky Martin
- Home Improvement (1991) as Wanda
- Picture This (1991) as Self
- Deadly Intentions... Again? (1991) as Charlotte
- White Palace (1990) as Judy
- Gravedale High (1990) as Miss Dirge (voice)
- American Dreamer (1990)
- Texasville (1990) as Genevieve Morgan
- Stella (1990) as Mrs. Wilkerson
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Ruth Sanderson
- It Had to Be You (1989) as Judith
- The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988) as Miss Bannister
- Sticky Fingers (1988) as Stella
- Rented Lips (1988) as Hotel Desk Clerk
- Going to the Chapel (1988) as Maude
- thirtysomething (1987)
- The Fartiste (1987)
- Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987) as Sylvia
- Babes in Toyland (1986) as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
- The History of White People in America: Volume II (1986)
- The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985) as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
- Clue (1985) as Mrs. Peacock
- Answers (1985) as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
- Off the Rack (1985) as Kate Halloran
- The Fourth Wise Man (1985) as Judith
- The History of White People in America (1985)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Loretta Lee
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Marian Simpson
- The Funny Farm (1983) as Gail Corbin
- American Playhouse (1982) as Millworker
- Newhart (1982)
- Pandemonium (1982) as Candy's Mom
- Lily for President? (1982) as Maggie
- Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (1982) as Aunt Angelique Lane
- Working (1982) as Millworker
- Private Benjamin (1981) as Doreen Lewis
- Incident at Crestridge (1981) as Sara Davis
- When the Circus Came to Town (1981) as Jessy
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Brenda Babcock
- Private Benjamin (1980) as Capt. Doreen Lewis
- When She Was Bad... (1979) as Mary Jensen
- A New Kind of Family (1979)
- 13 Queens Blvd. (1979) as Felicia Winters
- My Old Man (1979) as Marie
- Taxi (1978) as Mrs. McKenzie
- The Cheap Detective (1978) as Betty DeBoop
- Black Beauty (1978) as Annie Gray
- FM (1978) as Mother
- The Great Smokey Roadblock (1978) as Penelope
- All That Glitters (1977) as Ma Packer
- The Death of Richie (1977) as Carol Werner
- Murder by Death (1976) as Tess Skeffington
- Doctors' Hospital (1975)
- At Long Last Love (1975) as Elizabeth
- The Night That Panicked America (1975) as Ann Muldoon
- My Father's House (1975) as Mrs. Lindholm Sr.
- Hustle (1975) as Paula Hollinger
- Knuckle (1975) as Delafield's Mistress
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Come Die with Me (1974) as Mary Thatcher
- Daisy Miller (1974) as Mrs. Walker
- Nourish the Beast (1974) as Baba Goya
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Anita Willson
- Kojak (1973) as Julie Loring
- The Sting (1973) as Billie
- Scarecrow (1973) as Darlene
- The Blue Knight (1973) as Glenda
- The Blue Knight (1973) as Glenda
- Playmates (1972) as Amy
- All in the Family (1971) as Angelique McCarthy
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Nora Dane
- The Last Picture Show (1971) as Genevieve
- Divorce American Style (1967) as Eunice
- NET Playhouse (1966) as Hallie Arlington
- The Star Wagon (1966) as Hallie
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Eileen Brennan best known for?
Eileen Brennan is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Who Done It: The Clue Documentary (2022), Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (2006), The Amateurs (2006), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005).
When and where was Eileen Brennan born?
Eileen Brennan was born on September 3, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA. They passed away on July 28, 2013.
How many credits does Eileen Brennan have?
Eileen Brennan has accumulated over 119 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2022.
What is Eileen Brennan's background in cinema and television?
Eileen Brennan was an American actress known for her versatile performances in film, television, and theater. Born in Los Angeles, California, she began her acting career in the theater, making her Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Little Mary Sunshine. She went on to appear in several other Broadway musicals, incl...
Eileen Brennan by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- All That Glitters (1977) as Ma Packer — aged about 44
- Jack's Place (1992) — aged about 59
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Ruth Sanderson — aged about 56
- Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987) as Sylvia — aged about 54
- The Sting (1973) as Billie — aged about 40
- ER (1994) as Betty — aged about 61
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