EILEEN BRENNAN (The Cat Lady) studied at both Georgetown University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She first made her mark as star of the 1959 off-Broadway musical "Little Mary Sunshine," but it is her film appearances in The Last Picture Show (1971) The Sting (1972), and Murder By Death (1976) that created the world-weary, hard-bitten characters for which she is best-loved.
Ms. Brennan was nominated for an Oscar® for her portrayal of Captain Doreen Lewis in Goldie Hawn's Private Benjamin (1980), then recreated the role for the 1981 television sitcom version of the film, for which she won an Emmy (Best Supporting Actress) and a Golden Globe (Best Actress in a TV Series — Comedy/Musical). While filming television's Benjamin, Brennan was hit by a car and seriously injured. The recovery was long and painful, but by 1985 she was back at work, as caustic as ever in films such as Clue, White Palace, Texasville, My Old Man and Boys Life 2. As for television, Ms. Brennan has been nominated for six Emmy Awards during her career. Her most recent television appearances include the telefllms If These Walls Could Talk, Toothless and Freaky Friday, as well as guest appearances on The Fearing Mind, Veronica 's Closet, Touched by an Angel, Mad About You, Nash Bridges, ER., and Seventh Heaven.