Eileen Brennan died on early hours of Sunday July 28, 2013 at her home in Burbank, California. She died at age 80 after suffering from bladder cancer.  The veteran actress received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, playing tough drill captain Doreen Lewis opposite Goldie Hawn in the comedy, Private Benjamin.

Brennan reprised her role from Private Benjamin for the CBS television series, winning an Emmy Award, one of her seven career nominations.

Brennan also memorably appeared as brothel madam Billie in the Oscar best-picture winner “The Sting” (1973); as Peter Falk’s long-suffering secretary Tess in “Murder by Death” (1976); and as Mrs Peacock in “Clue” (1985). She often played world-weary, sympathetic characters yet demonstrated a real comic flair throughout her career.