Posted on 07/30/2013 1:11:33 PM PDT by Borges
Eileen Brennan, who earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious turn as the exasperated drill captain in 1980's "Private Benjamin," has died, CNN has confirmed. She was 80. Brennan died Sunday at her Burbank, California, home after a battle with bladder cancer, her management company said. "Our family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and respect for Eileen," her family said in a statement. "She was funny and caring and truly one of a kind. Her strength and love will never be forgotten. She will be greatly missed by all of us." Brennan was known for character roles as sassy, brassy women, the kind with a sandpaper surface but a light, pure heart. She played a waitress in "The Last Picture Show" (1971), the wife of Paul Newman's conman in "The Sting" (1973), a wisecracking maid in "At Long Last Love" (1975) and Mrs. Peacock in "Clue" (1985). She also did a great deal of television, including a reprise of her "Private Benjamin" role in the TV series of the same name.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Oh, sorry.
That’s a good one. Loved the Peter Falk character, too. Bought the DVD a few months back, but haven’t watched it yet.
I knew she wasn’t because I had looked her up a few weeks ago. I could not think of her name so I looked up Pvt. Benjamin. RIP.
Ben Johnson and Sam Bottoms are already gone. Clu Gulager is as alive as he ever was (not much, I guess) and John Hillerman is also still alive (in spite of a death rumor last year).
Great movie, though after watching all the extras, I now know a lot more about it than I really need to.
-PJ
Ben Johnson was a really nice person from what I have heard or read. He was a real Oklahoma cowboy and had the best voice I have ever heard.
All-Star cast!
Her name was Lorna Patterson. Does not appear to have done anything after that Private Benjamin TV series.
Brennan also played an aging, brooding disc jockey in a 70’s flick called FM (why is it when these people die I always remember their bad ones?)
Sometimes, it takes more than a smash-up to kill something really good.
I remember the accident, too. I think it was shortly after Private Benjamin.
in my top 3 best actors category
For some reason I was thinking her name was Randi Patterson but you are right.
I think she just got married and raised a family.
” When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky”
I did love her in Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective.
Miss Scarlet: Do you miss him?
Mrs. White: Well, it's a matter of life after death. Now that he's dead, I have a life.
Wadsworth: But, he was your second husband. Your first husband also disappeared.
Mrs. White: But that was his job. He was an illusionist.
Wadsworth: But he never reappeared!
Mrs. White: [admittedly] He wasn't a very good illusionist.
I realize my quote from the movie wasn’t from Brennan’s character. She played Mrs. Peacock, but I just thought this was funny.
Actually she was Paul Newman’s girlfriend, Billie, in The Sting.
Murder By Death (1976) - Quotable Lines
All-star cast!
Forgot Alec Guinness is in it, too! How could I forget that!?
Talented actress. Enjoyed her work. RIP.
If Patton were alive he’d slap your face!
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