Eileen Brennan , who earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious turn as the exasperated drill captain in 1980 's `` Private Benjamin , '' has died , CNN has confirmed . She was 80 . Brennan died Sunday at her Burbank , California , home after a battle with bladder cancer , her management company said . `` Our family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and respect for Eileen , '' her family said in a statement . `` She was funny and caring and truly one of a kind . Her strength and love will never be forgotten . She will be greatly missed by all of us . '' Brennan was known for character roles as sassy , brassy women , the kind with a sandpaper surface but a light , pure heart . She played a waitress in `` The Last Picture Show '' ( 1971 ) , the companion of Paul Newman 's conman in `` The Sting '' ( 1973 ) , a wisecracking maid in `` At Long Last Love '' ( 1975 ) and Mrs. Peacock in `` Clue '' ( 1985 ) . She also did a great deal of television , including a reprise of her `` Private Benjamin '' role in the TV series of the same name . Other TV appearances included guest shots on `` Taxi , '' `` thirtysomething , '' `` ER , '' `` Murder , She Wrote , '' `` Mad About You , '' `` Touched by an Angel '' and six episodes of `` Will & Grace . '' The latter earned her an Emmy nomination , one of seven she earned in her career -- including one that resulted in a win , a supporting actress-comedy pick for `` Private Benjamin . '' Verla Eileen Regina Brennan was born in Los Angeles in 1932 , the daughter of a doctor and a silent-film actress . After several small stage roles , she finally earned notice for her 1959 off-Broadway turn as `` Little Mary Sunshine , '' for which she won an Obie . Five years later , she gained fame for her performance as Irene Molloy , one of the woman who falls victim to Dolly Levi 's matchmaking skills , in the 1960s hit musical `` Hello , Dolly ! '' In 1982 , Brennan was involved in a horrific accident , struck by a car as she exited a restaurant with `` Benjamin '' co-star Goldie Hawn . She suffered broken bones in her face , an eyeball pulled from its socket and two broken legs . Even after recovering physically -- a process that took years -- she suffered from an addiction to painkillers and entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 1984 . `` It was my only hope , '' Brennan told People magazine in 1985 . `` I had reached the stage where I was taking anything I could get my hands on . '' Typical of her upbeat attitude , however , she told the magazine she took pride in her recovery . `` Everyone hits bottom their own way , '' she said . `` Mine came through my accident , which led to my pill addiction , which led to my birth . I say birth rather than rebirth because I feel born new . I re-established a spiritual connection that is lost when you are taking any kind of drug . Strangely enough I would n't have missed my accident . It just knocks me out to say that , but I mean it . '' Brennan also survived a bout with breast cancer in 1990 . Brennan was married to David John Lampson from 1968 to 1974 . She is survived by two sons , Patrick Brennan and Sam Lampson . People we 've lost in 2013 .
Eileen Brennan , who earned an Oscar nod for `` Private Benjamin , '' is dead at 80 . Brennan was known as brassy character actress . She appeared in `` The Sting , '' `` Clue '' and many TV series .