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Eileen Brennan

Eileen Brennan

Actor · Died July 28, 2013, aged 80 · Los Angeles, California, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 3, 1932
Died
July 28, 2013 (aged 80)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
59 on MovieCove · 111 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

What are Eileen Brennan's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Morality
19%
Survival
16%
Self
11%
Power
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 18 · Serious 5 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 22 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 15 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 10

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 23 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 18 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 9 of 16 analyzed roles.

Ally
9 of 16
Mentor
2 of 16
Threshold guardian
2 of 16
Trickster
1 of 16
Shadow
1 of 16
Hero
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Joyful
14
Melancholic
12
Warm
10
Absurd
8
Other
33

How their films linger

Feel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Eileen Brennan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 59 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Eileen Brennan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

111 credits, 59 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Naked Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Gram Malone

  • Miller's Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Additional Music

  • Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!(2006)

    Show 7 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Amateurs(2005)

    as Mrs. Cherkiss

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous(2005)

    as Carol Fields

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Hollow(2004)

    as Joan Van Etten

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dumb Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Minnie Hitchcock

  • Comic Book Villains(2002)

    as Mrs. Cresswell

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Jeepers Creepers(2001)

    as The Cat Lady

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Lizzie McGuire(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Marge

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Evelyn Knightly

  • The Last Great Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Zandra

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Pants on Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mom

  • Le petomane: Fin de siècle fartiste (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Toothless(1997)

    as Joe #1

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe #1

  • Veronica's Closet(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Grammy Anderson

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Changing Habits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mother Superior

  • Boys Life 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mrs. Randozza

  • If These Walls Could Talk(1996)

    as Tessie

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mrs. Bink

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Arli$$(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Lenore

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Reckless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Sister Margaret

  • Trail of Tears(1995)

    as Clara

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Freaky Friday(1995)

    as Principal Handel

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Lies Boys Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Sada

  • In Search of Dr. Seuss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as The Who-Villain

  • Nunzio's Second Cousin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mrs. Randazzo

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Dolores Freeman

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Betty

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • My Name Is Kate(1994)

    as Barbara Mannix

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Precious Victims (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Minnie

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Joelle

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Recycle Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Rose (voice)

  • Murder So Sweet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Martha Catlin

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector #10

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Jack's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore(1992)

    as Frieda

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story(1992)

    as Vicky Martin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Wanda

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Deadly Intentions... Again? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Charlotte

  • White Palace(1990)

    as Judy

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Texasville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Genevieve Morgan

  • American Dreamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Gravedale High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miss Dirge (voice)

  • Stella(1990)

    as Mrs. Wilkerson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • It Had to Be You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Judith

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Sanderson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Going to the Chapel(1988)

    as Maude

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Rented Lips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Hotel Desk Clerk

  • Sticky Fingers(1988)

    as Stella

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking(1988)

    as Miss Bannister

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife(1987)

    as Sylvia

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Fartiste (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Babes in Toyland(1986)

    as Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The History of White People in America: Volume II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Clue(1985)

    as Mrs. Peacock

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The History of White People in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Annabelle Shrike

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Answers(1985)

    as Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")

  • The Fourth Wise Man(1985)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Off the Rack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kate Halloran

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Loretta Lee · as Marian Simpson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Funny Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Gail Corbin

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Lily for President? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Maggie

  • Working (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Millworker

  • Pandemonium(1982)

    as Candy's Mom

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Aunt Angelique Lane

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Millworker

  • Incident at Crestridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sara Davis

  • Private Benjamin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 39 episodes · as Doreen Lewis

  • When the Circus Came to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Jessy

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenda Babcock

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Private Benjamin(1980)

    as Capt. Doreen Lewis

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • My Old Man(1979)

    as Marie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • When She Was Bad...(1979)

    as Mary Jensen

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A New Kind of Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • 13 Queens Blvd. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 9 episodes · as Felicia Winters

  • Taxi(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. McKenzie

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Cheap Detective(1978)

    as Betty DeBoop

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Great Smokey Roadblock(1977)

    as Penelope

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • FM (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mother

  • Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as Annie Gray

  • All That Glitters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 11 episodes · as Ma Packer

  • The Death of Richie(1977)

    as Carol Werner

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Murder by Death(1976)

    as Tess Skeffington

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Hustle(1975)

    as Paula Hollinger

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Night That Panicked America(1975)

    as Ann Muldoon

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Doctors' Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knuckle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Delafield's Mistress

  • My Father's House(1975)

    as Mrs. Lindholm Sr.

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • At Long Last Love(1975)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Nourish the Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Baba Goya

  • Daisy Miller(1974)

    as Mrs. Walker

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Come Die with Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mary Thatcher

  • The Sting(1973)

    as Billie

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Glenda

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · as Glenda

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Loring

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Scarecrow(1973)

    as Darlene

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Anita Willson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Playmates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Amy

  • The Last Picture Show(1971)

    as Genevieve

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Nora Dane

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • All in the Family(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Angelique McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Divorce American Style(1967)

    as Eunice

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Star Wagon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Hallie

  • NET Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Hallie Arlington

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1966 to 2011; peak year 1974.

Biggest box office

The Sting (1973)

$156M worldwide

Highest rated

The Sting (1973)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Clue (1985)

Film career

19662011

Peak 1974 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting109 of 111: 109 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thWriting1 of 111: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleMusic1 of 111: 1 only music, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s31 · acting1980s30 · acting1990s36 · acting2000s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew2010s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
67778797

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Eileen Brennan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of the 38 of 39 with a score; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 58 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

My Name Is Kate (1994)

81st percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Sting (1973)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Eileen Brennan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles26–61 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles22–67 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles28–64 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles24–49 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles18–54 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Eileen Brennan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Eileen Brennan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Melanie Mayron shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles