Eileen Brennan Dies: Actress Who Starred In 'Private Benjamin' Loses Battle With Cancer

Eileen Brennan, actress of comedy "Private Benjamin" fame in the 80s, has died after battling with bladder cancer, her management company confirmed. The 80-year-old actress died in her Burbank, Calif. home Sunday.

"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."

Her claim to fame was the sassy yet eloquent woman-type. She made major appearances in films such as "The Last Picture Show" of 1971, "The Sting" in 1973 in which she co-starred with Paul Newman and "Clue" in 1985. She played countless roles on TV as well on shows such as "Taxi," "ER" and "Murder, She Wrote." She was born in Los Angeles in 1932 and took some small stage roles as a young actress. It wasn't until 1959 when she was first recognized for her off-Broadway role in "Little Mary Sunshine," which landed her an Obie. She also made waves in her performance in "Hello, Dolly!" in the 1960s.

She found success starring in "Private Benjamin," but later suffered serious injuries from a car accident. As she was exiting a restuarant with a "Private Benjamin" co-star Goldie Hawn, she was hit by a car, causing two broken legs, broken bones in her face and one eye falling from its socket. After years of recovery, she spent time in Betty Ford Hospital for an addition to painkillers in 1984.

"Everyone hits bottom their own way," Brennan 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 wouldn't have missed my accident. It just knocks me out to say that, but I mean it."

This was Brennan's second battle with cancer. She beat breast cancer in 1990. She is survived by two sons, Patrick Brennan and Sam Lampson.