`Private Benjamin` star Eileen Brennan dead at 80

USPA News - American actress Eileen Brennan, who was best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Doreen Lewis in the 1980 comedy "Private Benjamin," died from bladder cancer last week, her family confirmed on Tuesday. She was 80 years old.

Brennan died on Sunday at her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank while surrounded by her family, according to Kim Vasilakis, an assistant at management company Unified Management. She said the actress, who survived a bout with breast cancer in 1990, died after a battle with bladder cancer. "Our family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and respect for Eileen. She was funny and caring and truly one of a kind," Brennan`s family said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday afternoon. "Her strength and love will never be forgotten. She will be greatly missed by all of us." Brennan is best remembered for her role as Captain Doreen Lewis in the comedy film "Private Benjamin," which became one of the biggest box office hits of 1980 and also spanned a short-lived television series. It also earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her other TV roles included appearances on "Newhart," "Thirtysomething," "Taxi," "ER," "Murder, She Wrote," "Mad About You," "Touched by an Angel," and "Will & Grace." Her work also earned her two Golden Globe nominations and seven Emmy nominations, including one that resulted in a win for her role on the "Private Benjamin" TV series. Brennan is survived by her two sons, Sam and Patrick Brennan, her daughter-in-law, Jessica, her sister, Kathleen Howard, and her two grandchildren, Liam and Maggie.