‘Private Benjamin’ Cast - Catch Up With Goldie Hawn and the Other Hilarious Stars

When it comes to eighties war epics, there is nothing quite as fun as 1980's Private Benjamin. It follows Jewish-American princess Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn), who joins the Women's Army Corps following her husband's death on their wedding night. A major hit, the film was nominated for three Oscars and resulted in a TV spin-off that aired from 1981 to 1983.

Haven't seen Private Benjamin, or want to give it a rewatch? The film is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video. In the meantime, keep scrolling to learn more about the original Private Benjamin cast.

Goldie Hawn as Pvt. Judy Benjamin

Born on November 21, 1945 in Washington, D.C., Goldie Hawn first gained recognition as a part of the 1968 to 1971 sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. From there, she starred in films like $ (1971), Steven Spielberg's feature directorial debut, The Sugarland Express (1974); Foul Play (1978) and Lovers and Liars (1979).

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From there, Hawn continued to shine, with roles in Overboard (1987), Death Becomes Her (1992), The First Wives Club (1996) and The Banger Sisters (2002). She took a rather large break from acting after that and just recently returned in 2017 for the movie Snatched, costarring with Amy Schumer. She also starred in The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 (2018/2020) with longtime partner (1983 and still going strong) Kurt Russell.

Did you know? In 2017, she received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can view it at 6201 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood, California.

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Eileen Brennan as Capt. Doreen Lewis

Oscar nominee Eileen Brennan starred as Capt. Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin. Prior to that, Brennan was in Divorce American Style (1967), The Last Picture Show (1971), Scarecrow (1973), The Cheap Detective (1978) and nine episodes of 13 Queens Boulevard in 1979. That was the last project she worked on before Private Benjamin, which earned Brennan her only Oscar nomination.

Her more recent works include While Palace (1990), Changing Habits (1997), The Amateurs (2005) and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous (2005). Sadly, Brennen died in 2013 from bladder cancer.

Did you know? She played Miss Hannigan in the 1989 Broadway production of Annie. While performing, she fell off the stage into the orchestra and broke her leg.

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Armand Assante as Henrí Trémont: Private Benjamin Cast

Emmy winner and four-time Golden Globe nominee Armand Assante has 144 acting credits to his name and counting. Pre-Private Benjamin he had a small role in The Lords of Flatbush (1974) as well as Paradise Alley (1978), Prophecy (1979) and Little Darlings (1980). Post-Private Benjamin, Assante was in the 1989 TV miniseries Jack the Ripper, which earned him his first Emmy nomination; and Gotti in 1997, for which he won.

Then, in the 2000s, Assante worked on projects like Two for the Money (2005), When Nietzche Wept (2007), The Night Never Sleeps (2012), Con Man (2018) and Cyrus: The Rise of Empire (2022). He also has 11 titles in the works, none of which have release dates.

Did you know? He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1969.

Robert Webber as Col. Clay Thornbush: Private Benjamin Cast

Unlike a lot of his fellow cast members, Robert Webber had a very established acting career before joining Private Benjamin in 1980. His most well-known credits are 12 Angry Men (1957), The Nun and the Sergeant (1962), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Flatfoot in Hong Kong (1975) and Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978).

After playing Col. Clay Thornbush, Webber could be seen in Wrong Is Right (1982), Wild Geese II (1985), six episodes of Moonlights (1986-1988) and two episodes of Something Is Out There in 1988. He sadly died the following year.

Did you know? He served in the Marine Corps during World War II, fighting in Guam and Okinawa.

Sam Wanamaker as Teddy Benjamin

Born on June 14, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, Sam Wanamaker started acting in 1948, with his first role being in My Girl Tisa. From there, he starred in The Concrete Jungle (1960), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Warning Shot (1966), The Spiral Staircase (1975), Death on the Nile (1978) and From Hell to Victory (1979).

The work kept coming in the 1980s, including The Aviator (1985), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), Cognac (1988), Pure Luck (1991) and Wild Justice (1994). That was the last movie Wanamaker worked on before he died in 1993 from prostate cancer at the age of 74. The movie was released posthumously.

Did you know? In 1993, he was awarded an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to the Globe Theater.

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Barbara Barrie as Harriet Benjamin: Private Benjamin Cast

American actress Barbara Barrie has 119 acting credits to her name and counting. Her earlier works include one episode of The Untouchables (1962), one episode of The Twilight Zone (1963), One Potato, Two Potato (1964), ten episodes of Diana (1973-1974), one episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1974), 37 episodes of Barney Miller (1975-1978), The Bell Jay (1979) and To Race the Wind (1979). That was the last title she worked on before starring in Private Benjamin in 1980.

From there, Barrie moved onto The Execution (1985), End of the Line (1987), one episode of Law & Order (1992), Judy Berlin (1999), Second Best (2004), Harvest (2010) and The Magnificent Meyersons (2023).

Did you know? She created a spicy chutney called Tomato Lightning, which is available in most gourmet food stores.

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