Bunny Levine, actress from 'La La Land,' 'Thelma,' and 'Gilmore Girls,' dies at 97

Bunny Levine, an actress celebrated for her memorable performances in "La La Land," "Thelma," and "Gilmore Girls," passed away at the age of 97. Her representative confirmed her death, stating she died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Tarzana, California. The Los Angeles Police Department has indicated that her death was due to natural causes.

Born on December 22, 1928, in New Jersey, Levine harbored an early passion for acting. However, she pursued a different path initially, working as a school librarian and dedicating herself to raising her three children. It wasn't until the early 2000s, following an early retirement and the loss of her husband, Bernard Levine, that she fully embraced her theatrical aspirations. She began taking acting classes and relocated to Los Angeles to build her career.

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Levine passed away while sleeping at her home in Tarzana, in the state of California.

Levine's early cinematic ventures included roles in the horror films "Slime City" (1988) and "Cadillac Man" (1990). She later garnered attention for her role as a movie theater cashier in the acclaimed musical "La La Land" (2016) and as Mona in "Thelma" (2024). Her distinctive stature of 1.47 cm often led her to portray maternal figures and grandmothers.

Beyond her film work, Levine made notable appearances in popular television series such as "Law & Order," "Gilmore Girls," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Shameless." This year also saw the release of two of her recent projects: the film "The Cure" and the short film "Achiever." Levine is survived by her three children, Marty, Francie, and Joe, and her grandchildren, Robin and Jeffrey.

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The death appeared to be due to natural causes.