Eileen Brennan
Photo: TMDB

Known for

Eileen Brennan

Born
3 September 1932
Zodiac sign
Virgo
Died
28 July 2013
Birthplace
Los Angeles, California, USA
Credits
107

Los Angeles-born actress Eileen Brennan (1932–2013) built a career spanning 108 credits in film and television. Movie fans may recognize her as Billie in The Sting (1973), Genevieve in The Last Picture Show (1971), Tess Skeffington in Murder by Death (1976) and Mrs. Peacock in Clue (1985).

On TV, she appeared in series such as Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, Home Improvement, ER and Will & Grace, and played Ruth Sanderson in Tales from the Crypt. She received the Theatre World Award in 1960, a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981, and a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1982. Her later films include Jeepers Creepers (2001), where she played The Cat Lady, and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005), as Carol Fields.

Frequent co-stars

  • Peter Falk · 2 films together: Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective
  • Cybill Shepherd · 2 films together: The Last Picture Show, Daisy Miller
  • Ben Johnson · 2 films together: The Last Picture Show, Hustle
  • Cloris Leachman · 2 films together: The Last Picture Show, Daisy Miller
  • Jeff Bridges · 2 films together: The Last Picture Show, The Amateurs
  • James Coco · 2 films together: Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective

Awards won

  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1982)
  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1981)
  • Theatre World Award (1960)

Nominations

  • Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (1989)
  • Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1981)

Career at a glance

First credit: NET Playhouse (1966) · Credits: 107

Roles played

Titles reviewed on Drama4U

  • Clue (1985)Clue1985 · Mrs. PeacockReviewed

Other work

  • Naked Run (2011)Naked Run2011 · Gram Malone
  • The Amateurs (2006)The Amateurs2006 · Mrs. Cherkiss
  • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous2005 · Carol Fields
  • The Hollow (2004)The Hollow2004 · Joan Van Etten
  • Dumb Luck (2003)Dumb Luck2003 · Minnie Hitchcock
  • Comic Book Villains (2002)Comic Book Villains2002 · Mrs. Cresswell
  • Jeepers Creepers (2001)Jeepers Creepers2001 · The Cat Lady
  • Lizzie McGuire (2001)Lizzie McGuire2001 · Marge
  • Strong Medicine (2000)Strong Medicine2000 · Evelyn Knightly
  • The Last Great Ride (1999)The Last Great Ride1999 · Pamela 'Mimi' Applegate
  • Will & Grace (1998)Will & Grace1998 · Zandra
  • Pants on Fire (1998)Pants on Fire1998 · Mom
  • Toothless (1997)Toothless1997 · Joe #1
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (1997)The Wonderful World of Disney1997 · Joe #1
  • Veronica's Closet (1997)Veronica's Closet1997 · Grammy Anderson
  • Changing Habits (1997)Changing Habits1997 · Mother Superior
  • Boys Life 2 (1997)Boys Life 21997 · Mrs. Randozza
  • If These Walls Could Talk (1996)If These Walls Could Talk1996 · Tessie
  • 7th Heaven (1996)7th Heaven1996 · Mrs. Bink
Show all (60 more)
  • Arli$$ (1996)Arli$$1996 · Lenore
  • Reckless (1995)Reckless1995 · Sister Margaret
  • Trail of Tears (1995)Trail of Tears1995 · Clara
  • Freaky Friday (1995)Freaky Friday1995 · Principal Handel
  • The Lies Boys Tell (1994)The Lies Boys Tell1994 · Sada
  • In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994)In Search of Dr. Seuss1994 · The Who-Villain
  • Nunzio's Second Cousin (1994)Nunzio's Second Cousin1994 · Mrs. Randazzo
  • Touched by an Angel (1994)Touched by an Angel1994 · Dolores Freeman
  • ER (1994)ER1994 · Betty
  • My Name Is Kate (1994)My Name Is Kate1994 · Barbara Mannix
  • Precious Victims (1993)Precious Victims1993 · Minnie
  • Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)Walker, Texas Ranger1993 · Joelle
  • Recycle Rex (1993)Recycle Rex1993 · Rose (voice)
  • Murder So Sweet (1993)Murder So Sweet1993 · Martha Catlin
  • Mad About You (1992)Mad About You1992 · Inspector #10
  • Jack's Place (1992)Jack's Place1992
  • I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore (1992)I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore1992 · Frieda
  • Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992)Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story1992 · Vicky Martin
  • Home Improvement (1991)Home Improvement1991 · Wanda
  • Deadly Intentions... Again? (1991)Deadly Intentions... Again?1991 · Charlotte
  • White Palace (1990)White Palace1990 · Judy
  • Texasville (1990)Texasville1990 · Genevieve Morgan
  • American Dreamer (1990)American Dreamer1990
  • Gravedale High (1990)Gravedale High1990 · Miss Dirge (voice)
  • Stella (1990)Stella1990 · Mrs. Wilkerson
  • It Had to Be You1989 · Judith
  • Tales from the Crypt (1989)Tales from the Crypt1989 · Ruth Sanderson
  • Going to the Chapel (1988)Going to the Chapel1988 · Maude
  • Rented Lips (1988)Rented Lips1988 · Hotel Desk Clerk
  • Sticky Fingers (1988)Sticky Fingers1988 · Stella
  • The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988)The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking1988 · Miss Bannister
  • thirtysomething (1987)thirtysomething1987
  • Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987)Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife1987 · Sylvia
  • The Fartiste (1987)The Fartiste1987
  • Babes in Toyland (1986)Babes in Toyland1986 · Mrs. Piper / Widow Hubbard
  • The History of White People in America (1985)The History of White People in America1985
  • The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985)The Ray Bradbury Theater1985 · Mrs. Annabelle Shrike
  • Answers (1985)Answers1985 · Amanda Jackson (Segment "Twinkle, Twinkle")
  • The Fourth Wise Man (1985)The Fourth Wise Man1985 · Judith
  • Off the Rack (1985)Off the Rack1985 · Kate Halloran
  • Murder, She Wrote (1984)Murder, She Wrote1984 · Loretta Lee
  • The Funny Farm (1983)The Funny Farm1983 · Gail Corbin
  • Newhart (1982)Newhart1982 · Corinne Denby
  • Lily for President? (1982)Lily for President?1982 · Maggie
  • Working (1982)Working1982 · Millworker
  • Pandemonium (1982)Pandemonium1982 · Candy's Mom
  • Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (1982)Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary1982 · Aunt Angelique Lane
  • American Playhouse (1982)American Playhouse1982 · Millworker
  • Incident at Crestridge (1981)Incident at Crestridge1981 · Sara Davis
  • Private Benjamin (1981)Private Benjamin1981 · Doreen Lewis
  • When the Circus Came to Town (1981)When the Circus Came to Town1981 · Jessy
  • Magnum, P.I. (1980)Magnum, P.I.1980 · Brenda Babcock
  • Private Benjamin (1980)Private Benjamin1980 · Capt. Doreen Lewis
  • My Old Man (1979)My Old Man1979 · Marie
  • When She Was Bad... (1979)When She Was Bad...1979 · Mary Jensen
  • A New Kind of Family (1979)A New Kind of Family1979
  • 13 Queens Blvd. (1979)13 Queens Blvd.1979 · Felicia Winters
  • Taxi (1978)Taxi1978 · Mrs. McKenzie
  • The Cheap Detective (1978)The Cheap Detective1978 · Betty DeBoop
  • The Great Smokey Roadblock (1978)The Great Smokey Roadblock1978 · Penelope

and 27 more

Images: TMDB · Posters belong to their respective copyright holders and are shown only to identify the work and for review purposes

Profile based on TMDB and Wikidata facts and checked against public sources. Career information only.