Oscar-Nominated Character Actress Eileen Brennan Dead at 80

She was versatile, tough, and often hilarious. She played waitresses, torch singers, and even a drill sergeant in her Oscar-nominated turn in PRIVATE BENJAMIN in 1980, a role she continued in the subsequent TV series which garnered her an Emmy and a Golden Globe. I last remember seeing her as the crazy cat lady in JEEPERS CREEPERS in 2001. Eileen Brennan had bladder cancer and died today at age 80.

From The Chicago Tribune:

Actress Eileen Brennan, best known for her supporting role as tough-talking drill captain Doreen Lewis in the Goldie Hawn comedy “Private Benjamin,” died on Sunday. She was 80.
Brennan died in a Burbank hospice after a battle with bladder cancer, her management company, Unified Management, told TheWrap. Also well known for 1971’s “The Last Picture Show,” Brennan’s performance in “Private Benjamin” earned her an Oscar nomination in 1981, and she continued to portray her Army captain character for three seasons on CBS’ television adaptation of the comedy. That role earned her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe………

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-eileen-brennan-movies-20130730,0,1729381.story