Brennan was born Verla Eileen Brennen on September 3, 1932[REF] in Los Angeles, California, daughter of Regina "Jeanne" Menehan, a silent film actress, and John Gerald Brennen, a doctor [REF].
After graduating from high school in California, Brennan relocated to Washington, DC, to attend Georgetown University, where she was a member of the Mask and Bauble Society [REF].