One of the greatest and at the same time criminally underrated actors in Hollywood's history. She was a tremendously gifted actress. Terrible loss.
One of Ms. Brennan's last acting gigs was the role of Jack's acting coach on Will and Grace. She was hysterically funny. Easily one of the best guest stars on the show. May she R.I.P.
I would have loved to have seen her onstage, esp. in "LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE, HELLO DOLLY! & ANNIE. She had her share of physical accidents. She was hit by a car & seriously injured & while playing Miss Hannigan in a summer stock production of "Annie" in Kansas City she broke her leg again after falling from the stage during rehearsals.
Carol Channing statement on Eileen Brennan, her 'Hello, Dolly' co-star :
"Eileen was a brilliant actress and I respected her work. I truly wish we had kept more in contact over the years," Channing said. "As is the case in this industry, you so often lose touch with each other. She will be missed."
Goldie Hawn statement on Eileen, her 'Private Benjamin' & Rowans Laugh-In co-star :
"We have lost my old friend Eileen Brennan. No one ever made me laugh more! Now I cry. Please keep singing darling from on high. Rest" --- rest in peace Eileen. I personally loved her in Babes in Toyland as Mother Goose. she was amazing in everything she did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZKyAuZWIc&feature=youtu.be&t=28m35s
Color me ignorant... Just learned tonight that she originated the role of Irene Molloy in HELLO, DOLLY! Wow. I definitely have a soft spot and tremendous admiration for those actors who created roles that became legendary in musical theatre. It was the first musical in which I ever performed.
And yes, she was a rip-roaring riot in WILL & GRACE.
Loved this lady, firstly, when I was young, as a comic actress in films. It was years later when I started to collect OBC recordings, I discovered she could sing too!
Here's Eileen from a 1968 summer stock production of WHERE'S CHARLEY? at Melody Top in Milwaukee. She was billed on the playbill cover as Eileen ("Sock It To Me") Brennan, from her time on LAUGH-IN.
Thanks for posting the photo, BroadwayDan! I saw that production and was thrilled to see the actress whose work I'd previously admired in the original HELLO DOLLY and in the tour of MIRACLE WORKER.