--- name: "Eileen Brennan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/eileen-brennan" fi1m_id: "eileen-brennan" imdb_id: "nm0107281" tmdb_id: 39015 wikidata_id: "Q238919" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 September 1932" died: "28 July 2013" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 80 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-10-04T16:35:05.197804+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Eileen Brennan ## Identity Eileen Brennan - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/eileen-brennan - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** eileen-brennan - **IMDb ID:** nm0107281 - **TMDB ID:** 39015 - **Wikidata ID:** Q238919 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Brennan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238919, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0107281/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39015 Actor. Born 3 September 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Died 28 July 2013. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 September 1932, Los Angeles, California, USA - **Died:** 28 July 2013 - **Active:** 1971–1980 - **Also known as:** 艾琳·布伦南, Verla Eileen Regina Brennan, Verla Eileen Regina Brennen, آیلین برنان - **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 85 (3), 1980s 64 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 74 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 2, Crime 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $259m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Brennan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238919, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0107281/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39015 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Private Benjamin*](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md) (64) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Eileen Brennan > Eileen Brennan's gravelly voice was well suited to a reprimand, but severity was only part of her appeal. We rate her most highly in ensembles that let her supporting characters matter as much as the stars. Eileen Brennan's gravelly voice is particularly good at conveying impatience. It makes her sharp-tongued characters sound as though they have had plenty of practice dealing with fools. In Peter Bogdanovich's *The Last Picture Show* (1971), however, her Genevieve belongs to an ensemble treated with unusual kindness. Brennan brings the part a credibility that suits a film willing to spend time with people behaving badly. This is where we value her most: given room within a group, without having to make every appearance a comic interruption. George Roy Hill's *The Sting* (1973) makes particularly good use of her ability to hold our attention in company. As Billie, Brennan helps make the supporting cast worth watching independently of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. We enjoyed the time away from the stars, because Brennan and Harold Gould's Kid Twist made those smaller encounters worth our attention. The con-game plotting occasionally dawdles, but these performances make the delay easy to forgive. Brennan gives us someone else to watch without leaving us waiting for the principal actors to return. The broader comedies made her severity more conspicuous. In *Private Benjamin* (1980), she plays Captain Doreen Lewis, the tough drill instructor opposite Goldie Hawn. Her skill as a comic foil makes that pairing work, and the role brought wider recognition before she reprised it in the television series (1981–83). Tess Skeffington in *Murder by Death* (1976), alongside Peter Falk, and her role in *Clue* (1985) also belong to this broad comic side of her work. These parts explain why comedies kept finding employment for that voice, though the early ensembles give us more reason to appreciate the actor using it. The later work could confine her to eccentric or lightweight supporting parts, with *Jeepers Creepers* (2001) among the examples. We need not pretend that every small role gave her much to do. A recognisable voice can make casting too easy: the performer arrives, supplies the expected manner and has little opportunity to surprise us. Brennan's work in the earlier films gives us reason to regret those restrictions. Start with *The Sting*, and allow a little of your attention to wander away from the stars. ## Biography Eileen Brennan was an American actress. Born Verla Eileen Regina Brennen in Los Angeles on 3 September 1932, she died in Burbank, California, on 28 July 2013. She began her career in theatre, making her Broadway debut in the musical *Little Mary Sunshine* (1963) after studying at Georgetown University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her film roles included Genevieve in *The Last Picture Show* (1971) and Billie in *The Sting* (1973). She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Captain Doreen Lewis in *Private Benjamin* (1980) and won a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe for reprising the role in the television series. Brennan also appeared in *Murder by Death* (1976), *Clue* (1985) as Mrs Peacock, and *Jeepers Creepers* (2001), as well as guest roles in series including *Will & Grace*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Private Benjamin* (1980), Fi1m 64, as Capt. Doreen Lewis — [page](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md) - *The Sting* (1973), Fi1m 85, as Billie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sting.md) - *All in the Family* (1971), Fi1m 82, as Angelique McCarthy — [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md) - *The Last Picture Show* (1971), Fi1m 89, as Genevieve — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-picture-show.md) ## Complete filmography (111) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Naked Run* (2011), as Gram Malone - *Miller's Tale* (2011), Additional Music - *Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!* (2006), series, Writer - *The Amateurs* (2006), as Mrs. Cherkiss - *Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous* (2005), as Carol Fields - *The Hollow* (2004), as Joan Van Etten - *Dumb Luck* (2003), as Minnie Hitchcock - *Comic Book Villains* (2002), as Mrs. Cresswell - *Jeepers Creepers* (2001), as The Cat Lady - *Lizzie McGuire* (2001), series, as Marge - *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Evelyn Knightly - *The Last Great Ride* (1999), as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate - *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Zandra - *Pants on Fire* (1998), as Mom - *Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste* (1998), Actor - *Toothless* (1997), as Joe #1 - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1997), series, as Joe #1 - *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Grammy Anderson - *Changing Habits* (1997), as Mother Superior - *Boys Life 2* (1997), as Mrs. Randozza - *If These Walls Could Talk* (1996), as Tessie - *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Mrs. Bink - *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Lenore - *Reckless* (1995), as Sister Margaret - *Trail of Tears* (1995), as Clara - *Freaky Friday* (1995), as Principal Handel - *The Lies Boys Tell* (1994), as Sada - *In Search of Dr. Seuss* (1994), as The Who-Villain - *Nunzio's Second Cousin* (1994), as Mrs. Randazzo - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Dolores Freeman - *ER* (1994), series, as Betty — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md) - *My Name Is Kate* (1994), as Barbara Mannix - *Precious Victims* (1993), as Minnie - *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Joelle - *Recycle Rex* (1993), as Rose (voice) - *Murder So Sweet* (1993), as Martha Catlin - *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Inspector #10 - *Jack's Place* (1992), series, Actor - *I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore* (1992), as Frieda - *Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story* (1992), as Vicky Martin - *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Wanda - *Deadly Intentions... Again?* (1991), as Charlotte - *White Palace* (1990), as Judy - *Texasville* (1990), as Genevieve Morgan - *American Dreamer* (1990), series, Actor - *Gravedale High* (1990), series, as Miss Dirge (voice) - *Stella* (1990), as Mrs. Wilkerson - *It Had to Be You* (1989), as Judith - *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Ruth Sanderson - *Going to the Chapel* (1988), as Maude - *Rented Lips* (1988), as Hotel Desk Clerk - *Sticky Fingers* (1988), as Stella - *The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking* (1988), as Miss Bannister - *thirtysomething* (1987), series, Actor - *Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife* (1987), as Sylvia - *The Fartiste* (1987), Actor - *Babes in Toyland* (1986), as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard - *The History of White People in America: Volume II* (1986), Actor - *Clue* (1985), as Mrs. Peacock - *The History of White People in America* (1985), Actor - *The Ray Bradbury Theater* (1985), series, as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike - *Answers* (1985), as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle") - *The Fourth Wise Man* (1985), as Judith - *Off the Rack* (1985), series, as Kate Halloran - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Loretta Lee, Marian Simpson - *The Funny Farm* (1983), as Gail Corbin - *Newhart* (1982), series, Actor - *Lily for President?* (1982), as Maggie - *Working* (1982), as Millworker - *Pandemonium* (1982), as Candy's Mom - *Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary* (1982), as Aunt Angelique Lane - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Millworker - *Incident at Crestridge* (1981), as Sara Davis - *Private Benjamin* (1981), series, as Doreen Lewis - *When the Circus Came to Town* (1981), as Jessy - *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Brenda Babcock - *Private Benjamin* (1980), as Capt. Doreen Lewis — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md) - *My Old Man* (1979), as Marie - *When She Was Bad...* (1979), as Mary Jensen - *A New Kind of Family* (1979), series, Actor - *13 Queens Blvd.* (1979), series, as Felicia Winters - *Taxi* (1978), series, as Mrs. McKenzie — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md) - *The Cheap Detective* (1978), as Betty DeBoop - *The Great Smokey Roadblock* (1978), as Penelope - *FM* (1978), as Mother - *Black Beauty* (1978), series, as Annie Gray - *All That Glitters* (1977), series, as Ma Packer - *The Death of Richie* (1977), as Carol Werner - *Murder by Death* (1976), as Tess Skeffington - *Hustle* (1975), as Paula Hollinger - *The Night That Panicked America* (1975), as Ann Muldoon - *Doctors' Hospital* (1975), series, Actor - *Knuckle* (1975), as Delafield's Mistress - *My Father's House* (1975), as Mrs. Lindholm Sr. - *At Long Last Love* (1975), as Elizabeth - *Nourish the Beast* (1974), as Baba Goya - *Daisy Miller* (1974), as Mrs. Walker - *Come Die with Me* (1974), as Mary Thatcher - *The Sting* (1973), as Billie — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sting.md) - *The Blue Knight* (1973), as Glenda - *The Blue Knight* (1973), series, as Glenda - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Julie Loring — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *Scarecrow* (1973), as Darlene - *Barnaby Jones* (1973), series, as Anita Willson - *Playmates* (1972), as Amy - *The Last Picture Show* (1971), as Genevieve — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-picture-show.md) - *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, as Nora Dane - *All in the Family* (1971), series, as Angelique McCarthy — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md) - *Divorce American Style* (1967), as Eunice - *The Star Wagon* (1966), as Hallie - *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, as Hallie Arlington ## Gallery - ![Eileen Brennan](https://film.one/media/person/103545/gallery-3c59aa338f59.png) Eileen Brennan — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Eileen_Brennan_1963.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can](https://film.one/media/person/103545/gallery-0c55ccfd4130.jpg) AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) benefit, Los Angeles- Sept. 1990- Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Eileen_Brennan_and_Melanie_Mayron_at_the_AIDS_Project_Los_Angeles_%28APLA%29_benefit.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Eileen Brennan](https://film.one/media/person/103545/gallery-9ea2693cac81.jpg) Eileen Brennan — Image via TMDB - ![Eileen Brennan](https://film.one/media/person/103545/gallery-864fbce12c07.jpg) Eileen Brennan — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1981: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Private Benjamin* ### Golden Globes — 1 won - 1982: Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (won), for *Private Benjamin* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1981: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Private Benjamin* ### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1989: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking* - Theatre World Award 1960: Theatre World Award (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/eileen-brennan