Bunny Levine

Bunny Levine
Born
Bernice Utal

(1928-12-22)December 22, 1928
East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedAugust 20, 2026(2026-08-20) (aged 97)
Tarzana, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1988–2026
Spouse
Bernard Levine
​
​
(m. 1949; died 2003)​
Children3

Bernice "Bunny" Levine (née Utal; December 22, 1928 – August 20, 2026) was an American actress whose career flourished late in life, with appearances in television series such as Gilmore Girls and films including La La Land and You Don't Mess With the Zohan. Before entering Hollywood, she worked for more than two decades as a school librarian, only pursuing acting seriously after retirement.[1]

Early life and career

Bernice Utal was born in East Orange, New Jersey, on December 22, 1928. She was Jewish.[2] She showed an early interest in theatre, participating in school productions and studying drama at university.[3]

Her first film role came in the cult horror comedy Slime City (1988),[4] followed by a small part in Cadillac Man (1990). After the death of her husband in 2003, Levine moved to Los Angeles and began acting full-time.[2] She quickly became a familiar face in guest roles across American television, appearing in Law & Order, Everybody Loves Raymond, Ugly Betty, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, 2 Broke Girls, Raising Hope, Southland, New Girl, Shameless, Fuller House, and The Mindy Project.[5][6]

Levine's film credits include The Jimmy Show (2001), A Thousand Words (2012), La La Land (2016), and several collaborations with Adam Sandler, such as You Don't Mess With the Zohan (2008), Sandy Wexler (2017), and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023). Even in her nineties, Levine continued working, with roles in The Invisible Raptor (2023), Sacramento (2024), and Thelma (2024).[7][8][9]

Personal life and death

Levine was married to Bernard Levine until his death in 2003.[10] They had three children together. She was also the founder of Actors Connection, established in 1991, which provided training and networking opportunities for aspiring performers.

Bunny Levine died in her sleep at her home in Tarzana, California, on August 20, 2026, at the age of 97.[11][12]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

  1. ↑ Alterman, Glenn (1995). The Job Book: 100 Acting Jobs for Actors. Smith and Kraus. ISBN 978-1-880399-81-1.
  2. 1 2 Sudermann, Hannelore (October 25, 2013). "Second Acts". Washington State Magazine. Washington State University. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  3. ↑ Kulman, Laney. "Bunny Levine: WSU alumni regales her successful journey into acting". The Daily Evergreen. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  4. ↑ Nowlan, Robert A.; Nowlan, Gwendolyn Wright (1991). The Films of the Eighties: A Complete, Qualitative Filmography to Over 3400 Feature-length English Language Films, Theatrical and Video-only, Released Between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1989. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-89950-560-2.
  5. ↑ VanHooker, Brian (February 27, 2021). "I Play the Dirty Grandma on Every TV Show". MEL Magazine. Archived from the original on May 21, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Lentz (III.), Harris M. (1988). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Through 1993. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-89950-364-6.
  7. ↑ The New York Times Theater Reviews, 1920–. New York Times/Arno Press. 1971. ISBN 978-0-8153-0643-6.
  8. ↑ "Bunny Levine Archives". Limelight. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Actress Bunny Levine attends the Los Angeles Premiere of "Thelma" at..." Getty Images. June 15, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Bernard Levine Obituary (2003) – New York, NY – New York Times". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  11. ↑ Carson, Lexi (August 22, 2026). "Bunny Levine, Librarian Turned Actress in 'Gilmore Girls,' Thelma' and 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan,' Dies at 97". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  12. ↑ "BERNICE LEVINE Obituary (2026) – New York, NY – New York Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
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