Bunny Levine, best known for her roles in Gilmore Girls and La La Land, has died at the age of 97. The veteran actress died peacefully in her sleep at her Tarzana home in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 20, according to NBCLA.
Death confirmed by police and representative
The Los Angeles Police Department attended Levine's address following a report of an 'unresponsive person,' NBC reported. Officers confirmed that her death "appeared to be from natural causes."
Her representative, Mike Eisenstadt, confirmed to NBCLA that Levine passed away at her Tarzana residence on Thursday while sleeping.
Career highlights and early roles
Bunny's first professional acting credit came in the 1988 horror comedy Slime City, but she took a break from acting to raise her three children. She shot into fame in her 50s into the 2000s, with a guest appearance in Everybody Loves Raymond in 2004. That very same year, she portrayed Mrs Thompson in the hugely popular series Gilmore Girls.
Levine went on to secure roles across numerous television productions, including Ugly Betty, Private Practice and General Hospital: Night Shift. In 2016, she featured alongside Mindy Kaling in an episode of The Mindy Project. That same year, she also played a movie theatre cashier in the film La La Land, which went on to win six Academy Awards.
Actors Connection and tributes
In 1991, the actress founded Actors Connection with her late husband Bernie. The studio honoured Bunny with an emotional statement on Instagram, writing: "Her fierce passion for championing actors helped launch countless careers and built a vibrant community dedicated to serving the artists she loved so deeply. Thank you, Bunny, for your vision, heart, and legacy."
Tributes have flooded in for the star, as one said: "A dear friend who in her 90's...was still a huge motivation to all, for her drive & Love for our industry....also a member of the #MayansMC family. Rest in Peace Bunny." Another added: "She was an amazing, kind, sweet person. She will be missed by many."
