Michael Ansara obit

Michael Ansara, actor behind Klingon leader Kang, dies at 91

He struck an imposing figure as Kang, the villainous Klingon commander who struck fears in the hearts of the federation. 

The man who played Kang in three iterations of "Star Trek," Michael Ansara, has died, according to his former agent.
Ansara was 91. 

The veteran character actor was probably best known for playing the Klingon leader in the original "Star Trek" series, then again in the legendary sci-fi series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager." 

But he had an illustrious career beyond that, plus a personal life that included a marriage to Barbara Eden of "I Dream of Jeannie" fame and a 36-year marriage to his wife Beverly.
Ansara died Wednesday at his home in Calabasas, California, according to former agent Michael B. Druxman. 

He was born in a small village in Syria, arriving in the United States with his American parents at the age of two, according to a biography provided by Druxman. 

Having entered college in Los Angeles intending to be a doctor, he went into acting instead. His breakout role came as Cochise in the 1950s TV series "Broken Arrow."
Other small-screen roles included in parts in such shows as "The Untouchables," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Perry Mason, "Lost in Space," "Hawaii 5-0," "Murder She Wrote," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" and his ex-wife's show, "I Dream of Jeannie." Ansara also voiced Mr. Freeze in Batman movies and the TV series. 

Ansara's film credits include 1953's "Julius Caesar," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," John Wayne's "The Comancheros," "Guns of the Magnificent Seven," "The Bears and I," "The Message" and "The Guns and the Fury." 

William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek, was among the many who offered condolences upon hearing of Ansara's death. So too did Eden, Ansara's former wife.

Tweeted Eden: "He was a good man, a good father and a fantastic actor who had a long and full life."

TV and filmography

    Action in Arabia (1944) as Hamid (uncredited)

    Can't Help Singing (1944) as California Caballero (uncredited)

    Intrigue (1947) as Ramon's Radio Man

    Queen Esther (1948) as Zubal

    Outpost in Morocco (1949) as Rifle Dispenser (uncredited)

    The Desert Film (1950) as Guard (uncredited)

    South Sea Sinner (1950) as Native Policeman (uncredited)

    Kim (1950) as Harem Guard (uncredited)

    Soldiers Three (1951) as Manik Rao

    Only the Valiant (1951) as Tucsos

    Smuggler's Island (1951) as Sikh Policeman (uncredited)

    Bannerline (1951) as Floyd

    Hill Number One (1951, TV Series) as Decius

    My Favorite Spy (1951) as House Servant (uncredited)

    Brave Warrior (1952) as The Prophet

    Diplomatic Courier (1952) as Ivan (uncredited)

    Yankee Buccaneer (1952) as Lt. Romero

    The Golden Hawk (1952) as Bernardo Díaz

    Road to Bali (1952) as Guard (uncredited)

    The Lawless Breed (1953) as Gus Hanley (uncredited)

    The Bandits of Corsica (1953) as Blacksmith

    Julius Caesar (1953) as Pindarus

    Serpent of the Nile (1953) as Captain Florus

    White Witch Doctor (1953) as De Gama (uncredited)

    The Robe (1953) as Judas (uncredited)

    Slaves of Babylon (1953) as Prince Belshazzar

    The Diamond Queen (1953) as Mir Jumla, the Mogul's general

    Three Young Texans (1954) as Apache Joe

    Drums of Tahiti (1954) as Opening Narrator (uncredited)

    The Saracen Blade (1954) as Count Alesandro Siniscola

    Princess of the Nile (1954) as Captain Kral

    The Egyptian (1954) as Hittite Commander (uncredited)

    Bengal Brigade (1954) as Sgt. Major Puran Singh

    Sign of the Pagan (1954) as Edecon

    Dragnet: The Big Rod (1954, TV Series) as Carl Chapman

    Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Maharbal

    New Orleans Uncensored (1955) as Floyd 'Zero' Saxon

    Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955) as Charlie

    Diane (1956) as Count Ridolfi

    The Lone Ranger (1956) as Angry Horse

    Gun Brothers (1956) as Shawnee Jack

    The Ten Commandments (1956) as Taskmaster (uncredited)

    Pillars of the Sky (1956) as Kamiakin

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Orderly World of Mr. Appleby (1956, TV Series) as Desar

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Baby Sitter (1956, TV Series) as Mr. DeMario

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Shopping for Death (1956, TV Series) as Butcher

    Broken Arrow (1956–1958, TV Series) as Cochise

    Last of the Badmen (1957) as Kramer

    Quantez (1957) as Delgadito

    The Tall Stranger (1957) as Zarata

    The Sad Sack (1957) as Moki (uncredited)

    The Rifleman: The Indian (1959, TV Series)

    The Rifleman: The Raid (1959, TV Series)

    Law of the Plainsman (1959–1960, TV Series)

    The Untouchables: Nicky (1960, TV Series) as Charlie Steuben

    The Rebel in the episode "The Champ" (1960, TV Series) as Docker Mason

    The Untouchables: The Jamaica Ginger Story (1961, TV Series) as Rafael Torrez

    Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) as Miguel Alvarez

    The Comancheros (1961) as Amelung

    Wagon Train: The Patience Miller Story (1961, TV Series) as Northstar

    Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Hot Line (1964, TV Series) as Malinoff

    Perry Mason: The Case of the Antic Angel (1964, TV Series) as Vince Kabat

    The Outer Limits: Soldier (1964) as Quarlo Clobregnny

    Quick, Let's Get Married (1964) as Mayor Pablo

    The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Herod's Commander

    The Virginian: The Showdown (1965, TV Series) as Marshall Merle Frome

    Branded: The Bounty (1965, TV Series) as Thomas Frye

    Harum Scarum (1965) as Prince Dragna

    Lost in Space: The Challenge (1966, TV Series) as The Ruler

    I Dream of Jeannie: Happy Anniversary (1966, TV Series) as Blue Djinn

    Bewitched: A Most Unusual Wood Nymph (1966, TV Series) as Rufus the Red

    Gunsmoke: Honor Before Justice (1966) as Grey Horse

    ...And Now Miguel (1966) as Blas Chavez

    Texas Across the River (1966) as Iron Jacket

    Gunsmoke: The Returning (1967, TV Series) as Luke Todd

    The Fugitive: The Savage Street (1967, TV Series) as Officer Miguel 'Mike' Anza

    The Time Tunnel: The Kidnappers (1967, TV Series) as Curator

    The Destructors (1968) as Count Mario Romano

    Sol Madrid (1968) as Capt. Ortega

    I Dream of Jeannie: The Battle of Waikīkī (1968, TV Series) as King Kamehameha

    Daring Game (1968) as President Eduardo Delgado

    The Pink Jungle (1968) as Raul Ortega

    The High Chaparral (1969, TV Series) as Alberto Ruiz

    Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) as Col. Diego

    Target: Harry (1969) as Maj. Milos Segora

    I Dream of Jeannie: My Sister, the Homewreker (1969, TV Series) as Major Biff Jellico

    The Phynx (1970) as Col. Rostinov

    I Dream of Jeannie: One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind (1970, director)

    The Mod Squad: A Double for Danger, Season 3 (1971, TV Series) as Ray Abruzzi

    Bearcats! Pilot Movie, "Powderkeg" (1971, TV Series) as Paco Morales

    Dear Dead Delilah (1972) as Morgan Charles

    Stand Up and Be Counted (1972) as Playboy Speaker

    The Streets of San Francisco: The Year of the Locusts (1972, TV Series) as Albert 'Al' Ferguson

    Hawaii Five-O: Death is a Company Policy (1972, TV Series) as Piro Manoa

    Call To Danger (1973, TV Movie) as Frank Mulvey

    Mission: Impossible: The Western (1973, TV Movie) as Ed Stoner

    The Doll Squad (1973) as Eamon O'Reilly

    Ordeal (1973, TV Movie) as Sheriff Peter Geeson

    It's Alive (1974) as The Captain

    The Bears and I (1974) as Oliver Red Fern

    Nakia, episode "The Dream" (1974, TV Series) as Howard Gray Hawk

    The Barbary Coast (1975, TV Series) as Diamond Jack Bassiter

    The Rockford Files: Joey Blue Eyes (1976, TV Series) as Joseph DiMinna

    Kojak: Justice Deferred (1976, TV Series) as Keith McCallum

    The Message (1976) as Abu Sofyan

    Day of the Animals (1977) as Daniel Santee

    Mission to Glory: A True Story (1977)

    The Manitou (1977) as John Singing Rock

    Centennial (1978-1979, TV Mini-Series) as Lame Beaver

    The Story of Esther (1979) as Haman

    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-1980, TV Series) as Kane

    CHiPs: The Poacher (1980, TV Series) as Nathan

    The Guns and the Fury (1981) as Prince Sohrab

    Bayou Romance (1982, TV Series) as Zanko

    Reading Rainbow: Gift of the Sacred Dog (1983) as Himself (voice)

    The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins (1984, TV Movie) as Turk

    Access Code (1984) as Senator Dales

    KGB: The Secret War (1985) as Lyman Taylor

    Hunter: Rape and Revenge, Part 2 (1985, TV Series) as General Mariano

    Knights of the City (1986) as Mr. Delamo

    Assassination (1987) as Sen. Bunsen

    Murder, She Wrote: The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel (1988, TV Series) as Nicholas Rossi

    Border Shootout (1990) as Chuluha

    Reading Rainbow: And Still the Turtle Watched (1993)

    Johnny Mysto Boy Wizard (1996) as Malfeasor

    The Long Road Home (1999) as Murdock Haynes (final film role)

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1978      Dr. Strange          Ancient One (voice)         TV Movie

Uncredited

1998      Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Dr. Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze (voice)          Direct-to-video

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1968      Star Trek: The Original Series       Kang      Episode: "Day of the Dove"

1981      Thundarr the Barbarian Vashtar (voice) Episode: "Prophecy of Peril"

1981      Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends       Hiawatha Smith (voice) Episode: "Quest of the Red Skull"

1986      Rambo: The Force of Freedom   General Warhawk (voice)             63 Episodes

1994      Babylon 5            Elric       Episode: "The Geometry of Shadows"

1992-1994          Batman: The Animated Series     Mr. Freeze / Dr. Victor Fries (voice)          Episodes: "Heart of Ice" and "Deep Freeze"

1994-1996          Star Trek: Deep Space Nine          Jeyal / Kang        Episodes: "Blood Oath" and "The Muse"

1996      Star Trek: Voyager           Kang      Episode: "Flashback"

1997      The New Batman Adventures     Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze (voice) Episode: "Cold Comfort"

1999      Batman Beyond                Episode: "Meltdown"

 

Ron Dias obit

Background Painter Ron Dias Dies at 76

He was not on the list.

Background painter and stylist Ron Dias died in California on Tuesday, July 30th at the age of 76. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 15, 1937, he first decided to pursue an art career after seeing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the age of 6. A graduate of the Honolulu Academy of Art and the correspondence art program Famous Artists School, he was hired at the Disney Studios in 1956 after winning a nationwide stamp contest.

Starting in the inbetween department during the production of Sleeping Beauty, this would be the beginning of a forty-plus year association with the Disney Company that included illustrating their characters for Golden Books, art directing limited edition cels for Disney Art Editions, art directing The Little Mermaid TV series and creating artwork for Disney’s interactive CD-ROMs in the 1990s.

His background art was seen in the cartoons of many major studios during the animation industry’s silver age, including Hanna-Barbera (Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear, Jonny Quest, The Man Called Flintstone), DePatie-Freleng (The Pink Panther), Warner Bros. (Return of Duck Dodgers in the 24 ½ century), UPA (Uncle Sam Magoo) and Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings. He also worked as a color stylist on The Secret of NIMH (pictured above), Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace for Don Bluth, and the Toon Town sequence in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (below).

He retired to California’s Monterey Peninsula in 1999, focusing on fine art painting and advocacy for art in the school system. He is survived by his partner of thirty-five years, Howard, as well as two sons and three grandchildren.

Frank Castillo obit

Former Cubs pitcher Frank Castillo dies

He was not on the list.

Former Cubs pitcher and minor league coach Frank Castillo died Sunday in Bartlett Lake near Phoenix, his family announced. He was 44.

The 13-year major league veteran drowned while swimming in the lake.

“It was shocking,” said Brian McRae, his former Cubs teammate. “You don’t expect to see your teammates’ name on the bottom scroll of ESPN saying he drowned at 44 years old. Frank was a quiet guy, didn’t say a whole lot. I hung out with him a lot, so I knew him at a different level than some others. He just went about his business and got the most out his ability, spent parts of 13 years in the big leagues and had some success — a good dude and a good teammate.”

Castillo was the third pitcher from the ’97 Cubs to suffer a tragic death. Kevin Foster died after a six-month bout with renal cell carcinoma in 2008, and Geremi Gonzalez was struck by lightning, also in 2008.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum, a teammate of Castillo in the minors, said he was saddened by the news.

“Obviously it was a bad accident at a lake probably close to my house,” Sveum said. “He lived right over the hill to me. Great guy and he was a great teammate when I played with him. It was an unfortunate accident.”

Castillo had a career record of 82-104, with a 4.56 ERA. His biggest moment as a Cub came on Sept. 25, 1995, when he was one pitch away from becoming the first Cub in 23 years to throw a no-hitter. Harry Caray was going wild in the Cubs TV booth, and his former wife, Tracy, was constantly shown in the stands cheering him on.

Castillo had two strikes on Cardinals outfielder Bernard Gilkey with two outs in the ninth of a 7-0 win when Gikley lined a high fastball to right in front of a diving Sammy Sosa to spoil the no-hit bid. The ball rolled past Sosa to the wall for a triple, leaving Castillo with a magnificent one-hit effort that earned several standing ovations from the crowd of about 10,000.

“It was one of those pitches that as soon as I threw it, I wanted it back,” Castillo said. “Sammy made a great effort. He almost made it.”

Mark Grace gave Castillo the ball, saying: “I saw his face on the mound. I almost started to cry. He came so close.”

Castillo’s family released a statement to El Paso TV station KVIA calling Castillo “a wonderful son, terrific brother, and an extraordinary father to his two beautiful girls. Everyone who knew Frank loved Frank. We are devastated by this loss. It is impossible to express in words the level of sadness we feel due to this tragedy. All of those who counted Frank as a personal friend, and to all those wonderful fans who cheered for him during his major league career, we genuinely appreciate your prayers and kind words during this extremely difficult time.”

Castillo played for the Chicago Cubs (1991–1997), Colorado Rockies (1997), Detroit Tigers (1998), Toronto Blue Jays (2000), Boston Red Sox (2001–2002, 2004), and Florida Marlins (2005). 

Some of his notable teammates, managers, coaches and owners were: A. J. Burnett, Josh Beckett, Paul Quantrill, Miguel Cabrera, Juan Pierre, Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca, Álex González, Juan Encarnación, Jack McKeon, Al Leiter, Damion Easley, Jim Frey, Don Zimmer, Greg Maddux, Rick Sutcliffe, Jerome Walton, Mark Grace, Shawon Dunston, Ryne Sandberg, George Bell, Andre Dawson, Damon Berryhill, Heathcliff Slocumb, Luis Salazar, Jim Lefebvre, Sammy Sosa,  Dennis Rasmussen, Doug Dascenzo, Joe Girardi, Billy Williams, Dwight Smith, José Vizcaíno, Mike Morgan, Dan Plesac, Rick Wilkins, Candy Maldonado, Greg Hibbard, Randy Myers, Steve Trachsel, Turk Wendell, Glenallen Hill, Jim Riggleman, Ferguson Jenkins, Luis Gonzalez, Howard Johnson, Jaime Navarro, Dave Magadan, Rodney Myers, Kevin Tapani, Terry Mulholland, Larry Walker, Don Baylor,  Andrés Galarraga, Todd Helton, Ellis Burks, Dante Bichette, Bill Swift, Quinton McCracken, Vinny Castilla, Eric Young, Buddy Bell, Larry Parrish, Tony Clark, Billy Ripken, Gabe Kapler, Bobby Higginson, Todd Jones, Roy Halladay, David Wells, Tony Batista,  Mickey Morandini, Raul Mondesi, Brad Fullmer, Jose Cruz, Jr., Darrin Fletcher, Shannon Stewart, Chris Carpenter, Mark Guthrie, Jim Fregosi, Cito Gaston, Gord Ash, Manny Ramírez, Jason Varitek, Pedro Martínez, Hideo Nomo,  Bret Saberhagen, Rod Beck, David Cone, Jimy Williams, Joe Kerrigan, Trot Nixon, Carl Everett, Brian Daubach, Shea Hillenbrand, Nomar Garciaparra, Tim Wakefield, Derek Lowe, Ugueth Urbina, Grady Little, Johnny Damon, Rey Sánchez, Rickey Henderson, Cliff Floyd, David Ortiz, Orlando Cabrera, Terry Francona, Theo Epstein, Kevin Youkilis, Bronson Arroyo, Byung-hyun Kim and Curt Schilling. 

George Scott obit

George ‘Boomer’ Scott, baseball all-star, dies at 69

He was not on the list.

George “Boomer” Scott, who won eight Gold Glove awards for his defense and played more games at first base for the Boston Red Sox than any player in team history, died July 28 in his hometown of Greenville, Miss. He was 69.

The Red Sox confirmed his death in a statement. The cause was not disclosed, but the Boston Herald reported last year that Mr. Scott was suffering from diabetes.

Mr. Scott, a right-handed power hitter who liked to call his home runs “taters,” spent nine of his 14 major league seasons with the Red Sox and is Boston’s all-time leader at first base with 988 games played, including 944 starts. He hit 154 of his 271 career home runs with the Red Sox and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

“In losing George Scott, we have lost one of the most talented, colorful and popular players in our history,” Red Sox team historian Dick Bresciani said. “He had great power and agility, with a large personality and a large physical stature. He could light up a clubhouse with his smile, his laugh, and his humor — and he was the best defensive first baseman I have ever seen.”

Mr. Scott was a member of the Boston team that went to the 1967 World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. He won the first of his Gold Gloves that season while batting .303 and driving in 82 runs.

Mr. Scott made his major league debut the previous season, when he hit 27 home runs and had 90 runs batted in. He played all 162 games as a rookie, marking the last time a Red Sox infielder played every game in a season.

Beginning in 1972, Mr. Scott spent five seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, winning a Gold Glove as the best fielder at his position each year. In 1975, he led the American League with 109 runs batted in for the Brewers and tied Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson with a league-best 36 home runs.

Mr. Scott returned to Boston in 1977 and played briefly for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees during his final season in 1979. He was named to the American League all-star teams in 1966, 1975 and 1977. Complete information about survivors could not be confirmed.

Notable teammates and managers include: Carl Yastrzemski, Tony Conigliaro, Rico Petrocelli, Billy Herman, Dick Williams, Joe Foy, Jim Lonborg, Bobby Doerr, Elston Howard, Ken Harrelson, Dick Ellsworth, Ray Culp, Sparky Lyle, Reggie Smith, Eddie Popowski, Mike Nagy, Ron Kline, Juan Pizarro, Eddie Kasko, Gary Peters, Sonny Siebert, Bill Lee, Luis Tiant, Luis Aparicio, Roy McMillan, Del Crandall, John Briggs,  Darrell Porter, Dave May, Don Money, Jim Colborn, Ed Sprague, Robin Yount, Johnny Briggs, Tom Murphy, Harvey Kuenn, Hank Aaron, Alex Grammas, Gorman Thomas, Don Zimmer, Carlton Fisk, Butch Hobson, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Ferguson Jenkins, Bill Campbell, Rick Burleson, Dennis Eckersley, Jerry Remy, Mike Torrez, Bob Stanley, John Tudor, Whitey Herzog, Frank White, Willie Wilson, Dan Quisenberry, George Brett, Hal McRae, Dennis Leonard, Clint Hurdle, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Thurman Munson, Jim Kaat, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Dave Righetti, Bucky Dent, Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Lou Piniella, Graig Nettles, Tommy John, Chris Chambliss and Willie Randolph.

Eileen Brennan - #56

Eileen Brennan, Stalwart of Film and Stage, Dies at 80

She was number 56 on the list

Eileen Brennan, a smoky-voiced actress who had worked in show business for more than 20 years before gaining her widest attention as a gleefully tough Army captain in both the film and television versions of “Private Benjamin,” died on Sunday at her home in Burbank, Calif. She was 80.

Her manager, Kim Vasilakis, confirmed the death on Tuesday, saying the cause was bladder cancer.

Ms. Brennan had had a solid career on the New York stage and in films like “The Last Picture Show” and “The Sting” when she was cast for the film “Private Benjamin,” a 1980 box-office hit starring Goldie Hawn in the title role.

Ms. Brennan played Capt. Doreen Lewis, the slow-burning commanding officer of a pampered, privileged young woman who joins the Army and finds that she isn’t anybody’s little princess anymore. The performance brought Ms. Brennan an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She reprised the role in 1981 in a CBS sitcom based on the film, with Lorna Patterson in the Goldie Hawn role. The TV performance brought Ms. Brennan the Emmy Award for best supporting actress in a comedy, variety or music series.

But she was forced to leave “Private Benjamin” when she was hit by a car and critically injured in Venice, Calif. Without her, the series died in 1983.

While recovering Ms. Brennan became addicted to pain medication and underwent treatment. She later developed breast cancer.

She returned to television in 1985 in a new sitcom, “Off the Rack,” with Edward Asner, but the show lasted only six episodes. Afterward she made guest appearances on other shows, but she never recaptured the attention she had known in the past — as the toast of Off Broadway in “Little Mary Sunshine,”as a film actress in the 1970s, and as an honored comedy star just before her accident.

Verla Eileen Regina Brennen was born on Sept. 3, 1932, and grew up in Los Angeles, the daughter of a newspaper reporter who also worked in sales and a former actress. Later in life, dealing with her own alcohol dependency, she talked about the alcoholism in her family when she was a child.

After attending Georgetown University, she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, performed in summer stock and worked as a singing waitress.

Her first big role was as the title character in Rick Besoyan’s “Little Mary Sunshine,” a 1959 parody of operettas that played at the Orpheum Theater. She won an Obie Award for her portrayal of the show’s spunky, fluttery-eyed heroine. A year later she complained to The New York Times that she had been “hopelessly typecast as that kookie girl.”

Perhaps to prove otherwise, she promptly starred in the national tour of “The Miracle Worker,” as Helen Keller’s gravely serious teacher, Annie Sullivan.

In 1963, Ms. Brennan earned positive reviews as Anna in a City Center revival of “The King and I.” In 1964, she was cast as Irene Molloy, the young widow, in the original Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly!,” with Carol Channing.

Among later stage performances, she appeared in John Ford Noonan’s “A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking,” a critically praised 1980 two-woman show with Susan Sarandon, and Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (1998), in which she played an alcoholic Irishwoman.

Ms. Brennan made her television debut in “The Star Wagon,” a 1966 PBS special, based on Maxwell Anderson’s play about a man who invented a time machine. Her film debut came a year later, in “Divorce American Style,” a comedy starring Debbie Reynolds and Dick Van Dyke.

After a brief stint as an original cast member (along with Ms. Hawn) of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” the 1960s sketch-comedy series, she did her first picture, playing a world-weary Texas waitress in “The Last Picture Show” (1971), directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Mr. Bogdanovich cast her again in “Daisy Miller” (1974), as a society hostess, and in “At Long Last Love” (1975), as a singing maid.

Ms. Brennan played a madam with a heart of gold in the Oscar-winning 1973 film “The Sting” and appeared in two comedy-noir films written by Neil Simon, “Murder by Death” (1976) and “The Cheap Detective” (1978) with Peter Falk.

In later years, she appeared in “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous” (2005), as William Shatner’s mother (despite being a year younger than he was). But she was most visible making guest appearances on television.

In addition to the Emmy she won, Ms. Brennan received six other Emmy nominations. Two were for “Private Benjamin.” The others were for her work in “Taxi,” “Newhart,” “Thirtysomething” and Will & Grace in which she played Sean Hayes’s formidable acting teacher.

Throughout her career she talked openly about addiction. “It’s so horrible and it can be so disastrous, yet there’s something about the sensitivity of the human being that has to face it,” she said in a 1996 interview. “We’re very sensitive people with a lot of introspection, and you get saved or you don’t get saved.”


Ms. Brennan was married from 1968 to 1974 to David John Lampson, an aspiring actor. Their two sons, Patrick and Sam, survive her, along with a sister, Kathleen Howard, and two grandchildren.

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1967      Divorce American Style Eunice Tase        

1971      The Last Picture Show    Genevieve          Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

1973      Scarecrow           Darlene               

1973      The Blue Knight                 Glenda Television film

1973      The Sting             Billie     

1974      Nourish the Beast            Baba Goya           Television Film

1974      Daisy Miller        Mrs. Walker       

1975      At Long Last Love             Elizabeth             

1975      Hustle   Paula Hollinger

1976      Murder by Death              Tess Skeffington              

1977      The Death of Richie         Carol Werner     Television film

1977      The Great Smokey Roadblock     Penelope Pearson          

1978      FM         Mother                

1978      The Cheap Detective      Betty DeBoop   

1979      When She Was Bad...     Mary Jensen      Television film

1979      My Old Man       Marie    Television film

1980      Private Benjamin              Captain Doreen Lewis     Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress

1981      When the Circus Came to Town Jessy      Television film

1982      Pandemonium Candy's mom    

1983      The Funny Farm                Gail Corbin         

1985      Clue       Mrs. Peacock    

1986      Babes in Toyland              Ms. Piper / Widow Hubbard       

1988      The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking           Miss Bannister   Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress

1988      Sticky Fingers     Stella    

1988      Rented Lips         Hotel Desk Clerk              

1988      Going to the Chapel        Maude

1989      It Had to Be You                Judith   

1990      Stella     Mrs. Wilkerson

1990      Texasville             Genevieve Morgan         

1990      White Palace      Judy      

1991      Joey Takes a Cab                              

1992      I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore         Frieda  

1994      In Search of Dr. Seuss     Who-Villain         Television film

1995      Reckless               Sister Margaret

1996      If These Walls Could Talk               Tessie    Segment "1996"

1997      Boys Life 2           Mrs. Randozza   (segment "Nunzio's Second Cousin")

1997      Changing Habits                Mother Superior 

1997      Toothless   Joe #1          

1998      Pants on Fire      Mom    

1999      The Last Great Ride         Pamela Mimi Mackensie              

2000      Moonglow                         

2001      Jeepers Creepers             The Cat Lady     

2002      Comic Book Villains         Miss Cresswell  

2003      Dumb Luck          Minnie Hitchcock            

2003      Cheaper by the Dozen    Mrs. Drucker      Scenes deleted

2004      The Hollow         Ms. Etta              

2005      Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous              Carol Fields        

2009      The Kings of Appletown                Coach's blind mother     

2010      Naked Run          Gram Malone   

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1967      NET Playhouse Unknown            Episode: "Infancy and Childhood"

1968      Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In      Performer           12 episodes

1970      The Ghost and Mrs. Muir              Paula Tardy         Episode: "Ladies' Man"

1970      The Most Deadly Game Alice      Episode: "Photo Finish"

1972      All in the Family                Angelique McCarthy       Episode: "The Elevator Story"

1972      McMillan & Wife              Dora      Episode: "Night of the Wizard"

1973      Jigsaw   Unknown            Episode: "In Case of an Emergency, Notify Clint Eastwood"

1975      Barnaby Jones   Anita Willson     Episode: "Blood Relations"

1975      Kojak     Julie Loring          Episode: "A House of Prayer, a Den of Thieves"

1975      Insight   Carol Harris         Episode: "The Prodigal Father"

1979      13 Queens Boulevard     Felicia Winters   9 episodes

1979–1980          A New Kind of Family      Kit Flanagan        11 episodes

1981      Taxi        Mrs. McKenzie Episode: "Thy Boss's Wife"

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

1981–1983          Private Benjamin              Captain Doreen Lewis     37 episodes

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1982-1983)

1982      American Playhouse       Millworker          Episode: "Working"

1984      The Love Boat    Helen Foster       2 episodes

1984–1985          Off the Rack        Kate Hollaran     7 episodes

1987      Magnum P.I.       Brenda Babcock                Episode: "The Love That Lies"

1987      Murder, She Wrote         Mariam Simpson              Episode: "Old Habits Die Hard"

1988      CBS Summer Playhouse Sioban Owens   Episode: "Off Duty"

1988–1989          Newhart              Corinne Denby 2 episodes

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

1990      The Ray Bradbury Theater            Mrs. Annabelle Shrike    Episode: "Touched with Fire"

1991      Blossom               Agnes    3 episodes

1991      thirtysomething                Margaret Weston             Episode: "Sifting the Ashes"

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

1992      Home Improvement       Wanda Episode: "Heavy Meddle"

1993      Tribeca Claudia Episode: "Stepping Back"

1993      Jack's Place         Dina       Episode: "The Hands of Time"

1993      Bonkers                Lilith DuPrave - Voice -     4 episodes

1993      Tales from the Crypt       Ruth Sanderson                Episode: "Til Death Do We Part"

1993      All-New Dennis the Menace        Voice     13 episodes

1994      Murder, She Wrote         Loretta Lee         Episode: "Dear Deadly"

1995      Walker, Texas Ranger     Joelle     Episode: "Mean Streets"

1995      Thunder Alley    Irma       Episode: "Are We There Yet?"

1995      Freak Friday - Principal Handel

1996      ER           Betty     2 episodes

1996–2006          7th Heaven         Gladys Bink         9 episodes

1997      Veronica's Closet              Grammy Anderson          Episode: "Veronica's First Thanksgiving"

1998      Nash Bridges      Loretta Bettina Episode: "Downtime"

1998      Mad About You                 Inspector #10     Episode: "Cheating on Sheila"

1999      Touched by an Angel      Dolores                 Episode: "The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life"

2000      The Fearing Mind             Irene's mother Episode: "Gentleman Caller"

2001–2006          Will & Grace       Zandra 6 episodes

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

2003      Lizzie McGuire   Marge   Episode: "My Fair Larry"

2003      Strong Medicine               Evelyn Knightly Episode: "Coming Clean"