Bunny Levine, a former school librarian who pursued her acting dream in Hollywood, has died at the age of 97. Her manager, Brandon Kjar, confirmed that Levine died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Tarzana, California, on August 20.
In a statement, Levine’s family expressed that she inspired affection and admiration through her dedication to education and performance. Levine was born on December 22, 1928, in East Orange, New Jersey. Her passion for acting emerged at a young age. She temporarily set aside this dream to pursue higher education, earning master’s degrees from New York University and Columbia University. Levine then committed 25 years to working as a school librarian.
After retirement, Levine reignited her acting career, auditioning and securing numerous TV and film roles. Her credits include “Gilmore Girls,” “La La Land,” “Law & Order,” and “Raising Hope.” Her agent, Mike Eisenstadt, described her as a great and fearless actress, known for her kindness. He remarked that she will be missed dearly.
Kjar noted that Levine continued to audition for roles and most recently worked in June. Her later works involve projects like “The Invisible Raptor” in 2023, Michael Angarano’s “Sacramento,” and “Thelma,” both in 2024. In 2026, she appeared in the final season of “The Upshaws” and “The Cure.”
Together with her husband of 53 years, Bernie Levine, Bunny founded the Actors Connection in New York City in 1991. The organization attributed many career launches to her, recognizing her dedication to fellow artists. “Thank you Bunny for creating such a vibrant community,” the Actors Connection stated.
Levine is survived by her children, Marty, Francie, and Joe, and her grandchildren, Robin and Jeffrey.