Eileen Brennan
Biography
Eileen Brennan was an American actress who began in theater before moving to film and television. She won an Obie Award for the off-Broadway musical Little Mary Sunshine and originated Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway in 1964. Her film debut came in Divorce American Style (1967), and she earned a BAFTA nomination as Genevieve in The Last Picture Show (1971). She played Billie in The Sting (1973). Brennan starred opposite Peter Falk in the Neil Simon spoofs Murder by Death (1976) plus The Cheap Detective (1978), and had a lead in FM (1978). Her turn as Captain Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin (1980) brought an Oscar nomination; she later won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the television version. She played Mrs. Peacock in Clue (1985) and continued in Stella (1990), Texasville (1990), Jeepers Creepers (2001), The Hollow (2004). Guest roles on Taxi, Newhart, Thirtysomething, and Will & Grace earned her Emmy nominations.
80years old at death
- Born Los Angeles
- Died Burbank
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Verla Eileen Regina Brennen (birth name)Also credited as Verla Eileen Regina Brennan
Movie Career
- Films
- 29
- Career span
- 38 years1967 to 2005
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A role that slipped away
Brennan was flown from New York to Los Angeles by Carl Reiner to audition for the role of Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, but the part went to Mary Tyler Moore.
First role
Brennan's acting career began while she was a university student, when she appeared in Georgetown stage productions of Arsenic and Old Lace.
Big break
Brennan's comic skills and romantic soprano voice turned her from unknown into a star when she played the title role in Rick Besoyan's off-Broadway musical Little Mary Sunshine in 1959, and she earned an Obie Award for it.
Early training
Brennan moved to New York City to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and while she was there Rue McClanahan was her roommate.
Eileen Brennan movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Peter Bogdanovich directed four of these films, Robert Moore two and Melanie Mayron two. Cybill Shepherd appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Cybill Shepherd's page
Cloris Leachman's page
Carol Kane's page
Madeline Kahn's page
Christopher Lloyd's page
Burt Reynolds's page
All films by Peter Bogdanovich
All films by Robert Moore
All films by Melanie Mayron
Also two films together23 more actors
- Jeff BridgesTexasville (1990) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- James CromwellThe Cheap Detective (1978) and Murder by Death (1976)
- Randy QuaidTexasville (1990) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Ben JohnsonHustle (1975) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Peter FalkThe Cheap Detective (1978) and Murder by Death (1976)
- Timothy BottomsTexasville (1990) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Judge ReinholdThe Hollow (2004) and Pandemonium (1982)
- William McNamaraStella (1990) and Texasville (1990)
- Harold GouldThe Fourth Wise Man (1985) and The Sting (1973)
- Martin MullClue (1985) and FM (1978)
- George DiCenzoThe New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988) and The Blue Knight (1973)
- Kaley CuocoThe Hollow (2004) and Toothless (1997)
- Marsha MasonStella (1990) and The Cheap Detective (1978)
- Mildred NatwickAt Long Last Love (1975) and Daisy Miller (1974)
- John HillermanAt Long Last Love (1975) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- James CocoThe Cheap Detective (1978) and Murder by Death (1976)
- Melanie MayronToothless (1997) and Sticky Fingers (1988)
- Catlin AdamsToothless (1997) and Freaky Friday (1995)
- Duilio Del PreteAt Long Last Love (1975) and Daisy Miller (1974)
- Lance KerwinThe Fourth Wise Man (1985) and The Death of Richie (1977)
- Tom TarpeyFM (1978) and The Death of Richie (1977)
- Barc DoyleTexasville (1990) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Sharon UllrickTexasville (1990) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Eileen Brennan's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$526 million
14 of the 29 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 29 films: 14 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 9 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 14Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 9Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 93% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$160M30.4% of the total
- 2$101M19.3% of the total
- 3$70M13.3% of the total
- 4$59M11.3% of the total
- 5$33M6.2% of the total
- 6$29M5.5% of the total
- 7$20M3.8% of the total
- 8$17M3.3% of the total
$36.4 millionfrom the other 6 films with a worldwide figure, 7% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1960 to 1982, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1982 | Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Private Benjamin | Won |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1981 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Private Benjamin | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.