Bunny Summers

Bunny Summers (born Bernice Siegel; February 23, 1924 – September 9, 2010) was an American character actress known for her work in stage and screen productions from the 1940s through the 1990s. Active in both professional and community theater, she was a frequent performer in Los Angeles-area productions and later appeared in regional theaters across the United States. Her screen credits include roles in The Last Starfighter, Re-Animator (1985), From Beyond (1986), and Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1995).

Early life Bunny Summers was born Bernice Siegel on February 23, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. She began performing at the age of 13 on the Borscht Belt circuit in New York, an early proving ground for many American entertainers.

By the early 1960s, she had relocated to Sherman Oaks, California, where she raised three daughters and became active in local theater. She was known professionally as Bunny Summers, but was often credited in community roles as Mrs. Ben Sussman.

Theater career Summers gained prominence in Los Angeles's theater scene throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965, she starred as a teacher in Dear Me, the Sky Is Falling at the Players Ring-Gallery Theatre in Hollywood, a performance highlighted in the Los Angeles Times and other Valley newspapers.

In July 1973, she played the lead role of Minnie Marx in the West Coast premiere of Minnie's Boys, a musical based on the early life of the Marx Brothers. The production took place at the Academy Theatre in Chatsworth, California, and featured Summers prominently in promotional materials and reviews.

Summers continued acting on stage throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including a performance in Come Blow Your Horn at the 565 Broadway Dinner Theater in Tacoma, Washington, in 1979.

In 1991, she portrayed Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at the Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, opposite Marty Ross as Tevye. Though one critic noted limitations in her singing voice, her stage presence was praised.

In 1998, her appearance in Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders was promoted in UK television listings, with her name among the lead cast.

Her television credits reportedly include guest roles on popular shows such as Family Ties, Seinfeld, Married... with Children, The Facts of Life, Saved by the Bell, and ALF.

Personal life Bunny Summers was married and known socially as Mrs. Ben Sussman. She was an active member of the Cadenzas, the women's auxiliary of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Association, and often participated in benefit performances for local arts organizations.

Death Summers died on September 9, 2010, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. She is interred at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, California.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1968 Funny Girl Mrs. Nadler Uncredited 1969 The Love God? Minor Role Uncredited 1971 Doctors' Wives Chatroom Nurse Uncredited 1972 Fuzz Mrs. Cooper 1973 Little Cigars Matron Uncredited 1977 The World's Greatest Lover Mother on Train 1978 Jokes My Folks Never Told Me – 1984 The Last Starfighter Mrs. Boone 1984 Weekend Pass Sadie 1985 The Ladies Club Miss Barnes 1986 Outrageous Fortune Costume Lady 1986 From Beyond Neighbor Lady 1986 Sylvan in Paradise The Lady TV movie 1986 Second Serve Mrs. Crockett TV movie 1988 The Wrong Guys Louie's Mom 1988 Big Top Pee-wee Costume Woman 1989 Skinheads Bessie 1993 Russian Holiday Helen Meadows 1993 Fatal Instinct Train Passenger 1996 Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders Zurella 1997 Sparkler Eager Old Lady 1998 Denial Pearl 2000 Big Wind on Campus Grandma Morton 2001 Night at the Golden Eagle Waitress 2001 Killer Bud Nurse Blatch

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1966 Petticoat Junction Sadie Prentiss / Mrs. Hennessy 2 episodes 1967 Laredo Amy Bergstrom 1 episode 1969 The Ghost & Mrs. Muir PTA Member 1 episode, uncredited 1969–1971 The Doris Day Show Lucy James / Woman #2 / Harriet 3 episodes 1970 Dan August Woman in Bowling Alley 1 episode 1971 That Girl Wardrobe Lady 1 episode 1976 The Feather and Father Gang Mrs. Van Owen 1 episode 1976 Grady Mrs. Gordon 1 episode 1977 Baretta Sweet Anne 1 episode 1980 Palmerstown, U.S.A. – 1 episode 1980 Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. Sanger Rose TV movie 1980–1982 The Facts of Life Hill / Matron 2 episodes 1981 Quincy, M.E. Marie 1 episode 1981 Stand by Your Man Mrs. Watkins TV movie 1981 One Day at a Time Lady 1 episode 1981 Choices Lady in Pharmacy TV movie 1982 Cagney & Lacey Mrs. Nolan 1 episode 1982 Crisis Counselor – 1 episode 1982 Skeezer Sally TV movie 1983 Manimal Pudgy Lady 1 episode 1983 Gimme a Break! – 1 episode 1984 Alice Customer No. 2 1 episode 1984 Masquerade Woman 1 episode 1984 Night Court Cafeteria Cashier 1 episode 1985 Sara Mrs. Ferguson 1 episode 1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Ruth 1 episode 1986 ALF Bunny 1 episode 1986 Perfect Strangers Lou's Mother 1 episode 1986 Crossings Maid TV miniseries 1986 Moonlighting Bridal Candidate 1 episode 1983–1988 Family Ties Barbara / Customer #1 / Mrs. Binney 4 episodes 1987 Who's the Boss? Mrs. Cassio 1 episode 1987 Easy Street Millicent 1 episode 1987 The New Mike Hammer Ruth McLaughlin 1 episode 1988 Starting from Scratch Miss Flutter 2 episodes 1988 Favorite Son Dolores 3 episodes, miniseries 1989 Married... with Children Mrs. Wicker 1 episode 1989 Saved by the Bell Mrs. Cummings 1 episode 1990 Knots Landing Director 1 episode 1990 Faith Bag Lady 1 episode 1990 Empty Nest Nina Feldman 1 episode 1990 Newhart Nanny 1 episode 1990 Singer & Sons Mrs. Drepner 1 episode 1991 The Antagonists Older Woman 1 episode 1990–1991 True Colors Marge 4 episodes 1992 Civil Wars Sadie Mestman 1 episode 1995 The Parent 'Hood Mrs. Dumont 1 episode 1995 Maybe This Time Farrah 1 episode 1997 Seinfeld Rider 1 episode 1997 Alright Already Bunny 1 episode 1998 Ellen Mom 1 episode 2000 Norm Large Woman 1 episode 2000 Senior House Senior #2 13 episodes, voice 2000 Time of Your Life Woman 1 episode 2000 That's Life Senior #2 1 episode 2001 Kristin Sadie Leperman 1 episode 2001 Virtually Casey Mrs. Despio TV movie 2001 FreakyLinks Sara 1 episode 2003 Audrey's Rain Widow #1 TV movie 2004 Happy Family Gladys 1 episode

Stage credits Dear Me, the Sky Is Falling (1965) – Players Ring-Gallery Theatre, Hollywood Minnie's Boys (1973) – Minnie Marx, Academy Theatre, Chatsworth Come Blow Your Horn (1979) – 565 Broadway Dinner Theater, Tacoma Fiddler on the Roof (1991) – Golde, Jupiter Theatre, Florida