Bunny Levine, Gilmore Girls actress and late-blooming star, dies at 97
Bunny Levine, the librarian-turned-actress whose later-in-life roles included Gilmore Girls, La La Land and Law & Order, has died at 97. Her representative confirmed she passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday at her home in Tarzana, California, according to reports. The death removes a familiar face from decades of television and film—and a rare example of a performer who built a thriving career long after retirement.
Key Takeaways
- Bunny Levine died at 97 on Thursday at her Tarzana, California, home; her representative said she passed peacefully in her sleep.
- After working as a school librarian for more than 25 years, Levine began acting after retirement and moved to Los Angeles following her husband's death in 2003.
- Her credits span Gilmore Girls, Law & Order, Shameless, La La Land, You Don't Mess With the Zohan and the 2024 film Thelma.
- Levine continued auditioning and working into her 90s, with roles in projects released in 2026 including The Cure and the final season of The Upshaws.
- Police told NBC Los Angeles the death appeared to be from natural causes.
Who Was Bunny Levine?
Born on December 22, 1928, in East Orange, New Jersey, Levine developed an interest in acting at a young age, according to her IMDb biography cited by multiple outlets. After graduating from high school, she set those ambitions aside for roughly 25 years while working as a school librarian and raising three children.
Her husband, Bernard Levine, died in 2003. She subsequently retired, enrolled in acting classes and eventually relocated from the East Coast to Los Angeles to pursue roles full time. She was 97 at the time of her death.
How Did Bunny Levine Build Her Acting Career?
Levine's path was unconventional by Hollywood standards. Rather than breaking in as a young performer, she auditioned for commercials, daytime dramas and films only after decades in another profession. Her representative told NBC Los Angeles that she continued auditioning well into her 90s.
That persistence paid off with a deep resume of guest spots and supporting film work. She attended the Los Angeles premiere of Thelma at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood in June 2024, underscoring how active she remained late in life.
What Shows and Films Featured Bunny Levine?
Television audiences may recognize Levine from Law & Order, Everybody Loves Raymond, Gilmore Girls, New Girl, Criminal Minds, Shameless, Ugly Betty, Fuller House and dozens of other series, The Hollywood Reporter noted. More recent credits include Dave, The Mindy Project and the final season of The Upshaws.
On the big screen, she appeared in You Don't Mess With the Zohan, A Thousand Words, La La Land and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. She reunited with Adam Sandler for Sandy Wexler in 2017. Later films included Sacramento (2024), starring Kristen Stewart and Michael Cera, and Thelma (2024), starring June Squibb.
What Do We Know About Her Death?
Representative Mike Eisenstadt confirmed Levine's death to NBC Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter reported that her manager also confirmed she died peacefully in her sleep at her Tarzana residence.
The LAPD responded to Levine's home Thursday morning after a report of an unresponsive person. Police told NBC Los Angeles the death appeared to be from natural causes. For more on passing tributes and entertainment news, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Additional details were reported by The Hollywood Reporter and NBC Los Angeles.