Biography
Prior to that high profile accomplishment Brennan spent the 1970s working with distinguished directors like Peter Bogdanovich and George Roy Hill, for whom she offered up stellar supporting roles as sharp-tongued, world-weary dames in "The Last Picture Show" (1971) and "The Sting" (1973). The smoky-voiced comedienne whose silent film star features made her a natural for such period pieces, also had memorable roles in zany parodies including …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Reprised role as Captain Doreen Lewis in the CBS TV sitcom, "Private Benjamin" | ||
| Worked in NYC cabarets partnered with Charles Nelson Reilly | ||
1960 | Stage acting debut, the title role in the Off-Broadway musical "Little Mary Sunshine" | |
1964 | Co-starred as Irene Molloy in original Broadway cast of "Hello, Dolly!" with Carol Channing and Reilly | |
1967 | Early TV appearance in support of Dustin Hoffman in "The Star Wagon" (PBS) | |
1967 | Feature film debut, "Divorce, American Style" | |
1968 | Regular role on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" | |
1971 | Appeared as Genevieve, the world-weary waitress, in "The Last Picture Show", directed by Peter Bogdanovich | |
1973 | Co-starred in the NBC miniseries "The Blue Knight" | |
1973 | Portrayed Paul Newman's landlady in "The Sting" | |
1974 | Reteamed with Bogdanovich for "Daisy Miller" | |
1975 | Had singing and dancing role in Bogdanovich's disastrous "At Long Last Love" | |
1976 | Offered amusing turn in "Murder By Death", scripted by Neil Simon | |
1977 | Delivered a powerful turn as the mother of drug-addicted son in "The Death of Richie" (NBC) | |
1979 | Played leading role of Felicia Winters on the short-lived ABC sitcom, "13 Queens Boulevard" | |
1979 | Played leading role of Kate Flanagan on the short-lived ABC sitcom, "A New Kind of Family" | |
1980 | Earned Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her turn as the hardnosed army captain in "Private Benjamin" | |
1982 | Was struck by a car and seriously injured | |
1984 | Resumed acting career near the end of the year after recovering from her injuries | |
1985 | Cast as Mrs. Peacock in the film version of the board game "Clue" | |
1990 | Reprised role of Genevieve in "Texasville", the sequel to "The Last Picture Show" | |
1992 | Cast as a candy store owner in "I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore" | |
1993 | Portrayed the unsuspecting mother of a serial killer in "Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders" (CBS) | |
1995 | Had small role of a defrocked nun in "Reckless", adapted from Craig Lucas' stage play | |
1995 | Played the principal in the ABC/Disney remake of "Freaky Friday" | |
1997 | Portrayed another nun, this time the Mother Superior. in the comedy "Changing Habits" | |
1998 | Returned to the NYC stage as the mother in Martin McDonagh's "The Cripple of Inishmaan" | |
2001 | Had supporting role in the horror film "Jeepers Creepers" | |
2002 | Had a recurring role as Zandra on the NBC comedy "Will and Grace"; received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy series (2004) | |
Awards
1972 | BAFTA Award for Supporting Actress in The Last Picture Show |
1980 | Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Private Benjamin |
1981 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Private Benjamin |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in Taxi |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Comedy, Variety or Music Series in Private Benjamin |
1982 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Private Benjamin |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Comedy, Variety or Music Series in Private Benjamin |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Comedy, Variety or Music Series in Private Benjamin |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series in Newhart |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in Thirtysomething |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series in Will & Grace |