Bunny Levine, the veteran actress known for Gilmore Girls, Law & Order and La La Land, died Aug. 20 at her California home. She was 97. Levine’s representatives confirmed that she remained active professionally until the end of her life.
Michael Eisenstadt told USA TODAY that she was “still auditioning and worked in June,” describing her as a fearless actress who would be missed.
Born Bernice Levine in Orange, New Jersey, Levine earned master’s degrees from New York University and Columbia University before working as a teacher and school librarian.
Although acting had interested her from an early age, she put that ambition aside while raising her children.
After retirement, Levine returned to acting professionally and built a career that lasted for decades. She later moved to Los Angeles following the death of her husband, Bernard S. Levine, in 2003.
Levine appeared in numerous recognizable television productions, including Ugly Betty, Criminal Minds, Everybody Loves Raymond, 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, Shameless, Jury Duty and Mrs. Davis.
Her Gilmore Girls appearance came in a Season 5 episode, where she played Mrs. Thompson, an elderly woman involved in a dispute with Luke over a boat stored in her garage.
Her film work included La La Land, Thelma and several Adam Sandler productions, including You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Sandy Wexler and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.
Her final credited roles were in the 2026 film The Cure and the short film Achiever. Levine also helped aspiring performers through Actors Connection, which she co-founded with her husband in 1991.
The organization credited her passion for supporting actors with helping launch numerous careers.
Levine’s family includes her children Marty, Francie and Joe, along with grandchildren Robin and Jeffrey.
A memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 27 at the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Clifton, New Jersey.
