Actress. Her best known role was that of 'Captain Doreen Lewis' in the 1980 motion picture "Private Benjamin", which earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. She went on to revive her part in the television series of the same name which ran from 1981 until 1983. Born Verla Eileen Regina Brennan into an Irish Catholic family, her father was a physician, her mother was a silent film actress, she enrolled at Georgetown University and it was during the period of her attending, when she discovered a fondness for acting. As a result, she participated in several stage productions. She furthered her skills, when she took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and made an initial impression in the off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine" (1959) which earned her a Theatre World Award and an Obie Award For Best Actress in 1960. She next conquered Broadway as she created the part of Irene Molloy in the long-running play "Hello, Dolly!" (1964 to 1970). Television was soon to follow as she had recurring appearances in the series "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" (1968). She went onto many TV guest spots from the 1970s through the 2000s. Among her other film credits include "The Sting" (1973), "Murder by Death" (1976) and "Clue" (1985). Her private life included her enduring recovery from being struck by an automobile in 1982, the overcoming of painkiller addiction and her surviving breast cancer. She died following a battle with bladder cancer.
Actress. Her best known role was that of 'Captain Doreen Lewis' in the 1980 motion picture "Private Benjamin", which earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. She went on to revive her part in the television series of the same name which ran from 1981 until 1983. Born Verla Eileen Regina Brennan into an Irish Catholic family, her father was a physician, her mother was a silent film actress, she enrolled at Georgetown University and it was during the period of her attending, when she discovered a fondness for acting. As a result, she participated in several stage productions. She furthered her skills, when she took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and made an initial impression in the off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine" (1959) which earned her a Theatre World Award and an Obie Award For Best Actress in 1960. She next conquered Broadway as she created the part of Irene Molloy in the long-running play "Hello, Dolly!" (1964 to 1970). Television was soon to follow as she had recurring appearances in the series "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" (1968). She went onto many TV guest spots from the 1970s through the 2000s. Among her other film credits include "The Sting" (1973), "Murder by Death" (1976) and "Clue" (1985). Her private life included her enduring recovery from being struck by an automobile in 1982, the overcoming of painkiller addiction and her surviving breast cancer. She died following a battle with bladder cancer.
Bio by: C.S.
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