Librarian-Turned-Actress Appeared in ‘Gilmore Girls,’ ‘La La Land’ and Adam Sandler Movies Dies at 97

Bunny Levine Dies at 97: Librarian-Turned-Actress Appeared in ‘Gilmore Girls,’ ‘La La Land’ and Adam Sandler Movies

Veteran character actress Bunny Levine, who left a long career in education to pursue her childhood dream of performing, has died. She was 97.

Levine died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Tarzana, California, on Thursday, August 20. Her representatives confirmed the news, while authorities said her death appeared to be from natural causes.

Although she entered the entertainment industry later than most performers, Levine built an extensive career that included appearances in Gilmore Girls, Shameless, Law & Order, La La Land and several Adam Sandler movies.

From School Librarian to Professional Actress

Born Bernice Levine on December 22, 1928, in East Orange, New Jersey, she reportedly developed an interest in entertaining others when she was still a child. However, acting did not initially become her profession.

After completing college in 1951, Levine pursued a career in education. She earned master’s degrees from New York University and Columbia University and spent approximately 25 years working as a school librarian and teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey.

During those years, Levine also devoted herself to raising her family. Her ambition to perform, however, never completely disappeared. When she took early retirement, she finally decided to give acting a serious chance.

It was an unusually bold decision for someone approaching 60, but Levine began taking classes, attending auditions and building professional experience through commercials, television projects and films.

A Late but Remarkably Successful Career

Levine received one of her earliest screen credits in the 1988 horror comedy Slime City. She subsequently appeared in the 1990 comedy Cadillac Man, which starred Robin Williams and Tim Robbins.

Those early assignments opened the door to a career that would eventually span nearly four decades. Rather than being limited by her late start, Levine turned her age and distinctive personality into professional strengths.

She became a reliable character actress who could make even a brief appearance memorable. Her warmth, comic timing and natural screen presence made her particularly effective in roles involving eccentric neighbors, elderly relatives and strong-willed women.

Memorable Television Appearances

Levine appeared in numerous popular television programs during her career. She played Mrs. Thompson in Gilmore Girls, the beloved comedy-drama centered on the relationship between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

Her other television credits included appearances in:

• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Law & Order
• Ugly Betty
• Criminal Minds
• New Girl
• Shameless
• The Mindy Project
• 2 Broke Girls
• Happy Endings
• Mulaney
• This Close
• The Upshaws

Levine also appeared in Amazon Freevee’s acclaimed comedy series Jury Duty. The unusual program followed an unsuspecting participant who believed that he had been selected for a genuine jury trial, although everyone else involved was an actor.

Her willingness to accept projects across different genres allowed her to remain visible to several generations of television viewers.

Work in Adam Sandler Movies

Levine also became familiar to Adam Sandler fans through appearances in movies associated with the comedian and his production company.

She played an elderly woman in the 2008 action comedy You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, starring Sandler as an Israeli counterterrorism soldier who leaves his old life behind to become a hairstylist in New York.

Levine later appeared in Sandler’s 2017 Netflix comedy Sandy Wexler. The movie featured Sandler as an eccentric but dedicated talent manager trying to guide the careers of his unusual collection of clients.

Her connection with Sandler’s film world continued with You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, the 2023 coming-of-age comedy starring members of Sandler’s family.