Bunny Levine dies at 97 after memorable roles in 'Gilmore Girls' and 'La La Land'

Her screen credits stretched from the late 1980s into 2026, while she kept auditioning well into her nineties.

Bunny Levine, the veteran actress whose extensive career included appearances in Gilmore Girls, Law & Order and La La Land, has died aged 97.

Levine died in her sleep at her home in Tarzana, California, on August 20, according to her representatives. The Los Angeles Police Department said her death appeared to be from natural causes. Her passing was confirmed by representatives to multiple outlets, including NBC Los Angeles and CBS News.

Her representative Brandon Kjar told PEOPLE that Levine was still auditioning at 97 and had worked in June. He described her as a "great and fearless actress" and praised her as a kind person who remained committed to performing late into her life.

Levine was born Bernice Levine in Orange, New Jersey, in 1928. Acting was a dream she had carried from a young age, but she initially built a career in education. She earned master's degrees from New York University and Columbia University before working as a school librarian and teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey, for more than two decades.

She eventually retired from education and pursued acting later in life. Her screen career began in the late 1980s, with credits including the 1988 cult film Slime City and the 1990 film Cadillac Man, which starred Robin Williams and Tim Robbins.

Levine went on to become a familiar face across American television. Her credits included Law & Order, Everybody Loves Raymond, Ugly Betty, Criminal Minds, Raising Hope, 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, The Mindy Project and Shameless. She also appeared in Gilmore Girls, where she played Mrs Thompson in an episode from the show's fifth season.

Her film work included You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Sandy Wexler, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Sacramento and Thelma. She also appeared in Damien Chazelle's Oscar-winning musical La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

Levine's career remained active during her 90s. Her recent credits included the 2024 films Thelma and Sacramento, as well as appearances in The Upshaws. In 2026, she appeared in The Upshaws and the film The Cure. She was also credited in the short film Achiever.

Away from acting, Levine had a longstanding commitment to helping other performers. In 1991, she and her husband Bernard S Levine co-founded Actors Connection in New York City, an organisation designed to help actors develop their careers. The organisation paid tribute to her after her death, highlighting her passion for supporting performers and saying her work had helped launch countless careers.

Bernard, her husband of 53 years, died in 2003. Levine subsequently moved to Los Angeles and continued pursuing acting full time. Her unusual second career became a defining part of her story, with her professional credits continuing across television and film for decades after she first entered the industry.

Levine is survived by her children Marty, Francie and Joe, along with her grandchildren Robin and Jeffrey. A memorial service is scheduled for August 27 at the Jewish Memorial Chapel in Clifton, New Jersey.