Who’s Still Alive From ‘Private Benjamin’?
When Private Benjamin hit theaters on October 10, 1980, audiences loved the hilarious and beautiful Goldie Hawn‘s performance as a young widow who unexpectedly becomes an Army recruit. Directed by Howard Zieff and written by Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer and Harvey Miller, the film became both a commercial success and a cultural staple, earning Hawn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and Eileen Brennan a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. With the film turning 45 this year, let’s catch up with a few of its main stars.
Goldie Hawn (79)
Judy Benjamin
Warner Bros./Everett Collection; Mike Coppola/Getty Images
After finding fame in the late ’60s and ’70s, Hawn shone in Private Benjamin, playing a new Army recruit who joins after her new husband dies on their wedding night. After the success of the film, she went on to star in movies such as Overboard, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, Snatched and The Christmas Chronicles films with her longtime partner Kurt Russell. She also founded the Hawn Foundation (including the MindUP program), focusing on children’s education and mental health.
Armand Assante (76)
Henri Alan Tremont
Warner Bros./Everett Collection; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for “The Man who Unlocked the Universe”
Assante’s Henri is Judy’s romantic interest, who turns out to be a bad guy. He went on to have a prolific film and television career, including Gotti (for which he won an Emmy), Judge Dredd, American Gangster and more. On television, he had a recurring role on NCIS as arms dealer René Benoit.
Beyond Hollywood, he has supported film and humanitarian projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In 2013, he partnered in launching Ora Vivo Cigars, a premium cigar brand. Assante was briefly linked to actress Dyan Cannon in the late 1970s and later married Karen McArn in 1982, with whom he had two daughters before their separation in 1992.
Mary Kay Place (78)
Mary Lou Glass
Everett Collection; Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for IFC Films
Place plays one of Judy’s fellow recruits and confidantes. After the film, she continued acting, writing, directing and singing. Her post-Private Benjamin credits include films such as The Big Chill, Being John Malkovich, Diane and TV work (also directing episodes of Friends). Her most recent role was in the show 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Albert Brooks (78)
Yale Goodman
Warner Bros./Everett Collection; Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TCM
Brooks’ Yale Goodman is the husband whose sudden death on the wedding night propels Judy into a life she never intended. He remains a respected actor, director, writer, and comedian, known for Lost in America, Defending Your Life, Broadcast News (for which he was Oscar-nominated), and voice work such as Marlin in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
Craig T. Nelson (81)
Captain William Woodbridge
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Nelson plays a supporting military officer in Private Benjamin. He later became widely known for his role as Coach Hayden Fox in the series Coach (earning a Primetime Emmy), voiced Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles films, and appeared in Parenthood as Zeek Braverman, among many other roles across film and television.
In Memoriam
Warner Brothers/Everett Collection
Eileen Brennan (Captain Doreen Lewis) died July 28, 2013, at age 80, from bladder cancer.
Harry Dean Stanton (Sgt. Jim Ballard) died September 15, 2017, at age 91.
Robert Webber (Col. Clay Thornbush) died May 19, 1989, at age 64, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Sam Wanamaker (Teddy Benjamin) died December 18, 1993, at age 74, from prostate cancer.
Gretchen Wyler (Aunt Kissy) died May 27, 2007, at age 75, from breast cancer.
Where to Watch Private Benjamin
Private Benjamin is streaming for free on Fandango at Home and Tubi, and is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube.
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