Bergen County Teacher Who Became Successful Actress Dies

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Bernice "Bunny" Levine, a former Teaneck teacher and school librarian who headed to Hollywood to act, has died at 97.

Levine's obituary noted that she served as a teacher and librarian for decades while raising her three children, then took early retirement to pursue her next career.

She found success in her late-in-life dream, playing an older woman in numerous TV shows and films, including "Gilmore Girls," "Law and Order," and "La La Land."

Deadline noted that she worked for four decades, often in roles like "Grandma" or "Old Lady" in single episodes. In "Gilmore Girls," she portrayed Mrs. Thompson, who told diner owner Luke he could no longer store his boat in her garage because she was leaving.

On a Teaneck Memorial Wall Facebook page, several commenters said they had warm memories of her.

"Mrs. Levine was an amazing teacher and nurtured my love of reading and theater," wrote one woman.

"I will never forget her," wrote another.

Although she lived in California at the time of her death, services will be held in Clifton on Thursday. Read her obituary here.