Hope Summers
Biography
Hope Summers was an actress born in Mattoon, Illinois, on June 7, 1896, and she died on June 22, 1979, at the age of 83. She developed an early interest in the theater and graduated from the Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois. She subsequently taught speech and diction at the school, which led to her position as the head of the Speech Department at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, while also teaching students privately. In the 1930s, she began to focus on acting, finding work in community and stock theaters in Illinois. Her acting credits included portraying a friendly neighbor or companion for Frances Bavier's Aunt Bee character on many episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, as well as a seemingly amiable Satanist in Rosemary's Baby.
Career overview
Hope Summers was an actress born in Mattoon, Illinois, on June 7, 1896, and she passed away on June 22, 1979, at the age of 83. Early in life, she developed an interest in the theater. She graduated from the Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois, and subsequently taught speech and diction at the institution. This led to her becoming the head of the Speech Department at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, while also teaching students privately on the side. During the 1930s, Summers began to focus on acting, finding work in community and stock theaters in Illinois.
Throughout her career, Summers was known for her versatile acting work across television and film. She could portray a friendly neighbor or companion, which she demonstrated by playing a companion to Frances Bavier's character, Aunt Bee, on many episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, which began in 1960. Demonstrating her range, she also played a seemingly amiable Satanist in the 1968 feature film Rosemary's Baby. Across her career, Summers accumulated a total of 74 known acting credits on the Movie Database before her death in 1979.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
82 titles- Evil Town (1987) as Alice Wylie (as Hope Summer)
- Foul Play (1978) as Ethel
- Another Day (1978)
- Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws (1978) as Marcie
- Snip (1976) as Aunt Polly
- Starsky & Hutch (1975)
- Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)
- Dr. Shagetz (1975) as Alice Wylie
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Addie Bjornesen
- Chico and the Man (1974)
- Death Sentence (1974) as Emily Boylan
- Our Time (1974) as Biology Teacher
- Indict and Convict (1974) as Mrs. Potter
- Charley Varrick (1973) as Mess Vesta
- Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973) as Laura
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Nurse Meg Cratty
- Where Does It Hurt? (1972) as Nurse Throttle
- Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972) as Mrs. Beeman
- Night Gallery (1970)
- The Learning Tree (1969) as Mrs. Kiner
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Minnie Leona Moroney
- Adam-12 (1968) as Clara Fisher
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Clara Edwards
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Clara
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) as Mrs. Gilmore
- 5 Card Stud (1968) as Customer in General Store (uncredited)
- The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) as Celia
- The Second Hundred Years (1967) as Mrs. Hansen
- That Girl (1966)
- Love on a Rooftop (1966)
- The Pruitts of Southampton (1966)
- Penelope (1966) as Shop Lady (uncredited)
- The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) as Susanna Blush
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Mrs. Hasselrad
- Bewitched (1964)
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964)
- One Man's Way (1964) as Mrs. Elwood Thompson
- Petticoat Junction (1963) as Mabel Denton
- The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963) as Mrs. Rutledge
- Spencer's Mountain (1963) as Mother Ida
- Glynis (1963)
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
- The Couch (1962) as Mrs. Quimby
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Madge
- The New Breed (1961) as Mrs. McCurtin
- The Children's Hour (1961) as Agatha
- Homicidal (1961) as Martha Adrims (Uncredited)
- Parrish (1961) as Mary (uncredited)
- Angel Baby (1961) as Woman at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
- Claudelle Inglish (1961) as Ernestine Peasley (uncredited)
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Clara Edwards
- My Three Sons (1960)
- Inherit the Wind (1960) as Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
- Dennis the Menace (1959) as Mrs. Burns
- Law of the Plainsman (1959) as Mrs. Dodge
- The Third Man (1959) as Irate woman
- Hound-Dog Man (1959) as Jewell Crouch
- Edge of Eternity (1959) as Motel Attendant
- The Rifleman (1958)
- The Rifleman (1958) as Hattie Denton
- Peter Gunn (1958)
- U.S. Marshall (1958) as Mrs. Martin (uncredited)
- I Want to Live! (1958) as Ethel - Policewoman on Bus (uncredited)
- Maverick (1957)
- The Thin Man (1957)
- Zero Hour! (1957) as Older Woman
- The Gale Storm Show (1956) as Angie Kirkham
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Ellen Cade
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Della
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jen
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Marie Tallendier
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Maid
- Son of Man (1954) as Miss Johnson
- Private Secretary (1953)
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Nurse O'Brien
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Elizabeth
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Mrs. Wagner
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Aunt
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Old Lady
- Better Use of Leisure Time (1950) as Mrs. Michaels (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Hope Summers best known for?
Hope Summers is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Foul Play (1978), Starsky & Hutch (1975), Welcome Back, Kotter (1975), An Inconvenient Truth (2006).
When and where was Hope Summers born?
Hope Summers was born on June 7, 1896 in Mattoon, Illinois, USA. They passed away on June 22, 1979.
How many credits does Hope Summers have?
Hope Summers has accumulated over 82 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1950 to 1987.
What is Hope Summers's background in cinema and television?
Hope Summers was an actress born in Mattoon, Illinois, on June 7, 1896, and she died on June 22, 1979, at the age of 83. She developed an early interest in the theater and graduated from the Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois. She subsequently taught speech and diction at the school, which led to her p...
Hope Summers by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Addie Bjornesen — aged about 78
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Nurse Meg Cratty — aged about 76
- Bewitched (1964) — aged about 68
- Night Gallery (1970) — aged about 74
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) as Mrs. Gilmore — aged about 72
- U.S. Marshall (1958) as Mrs. Martin (uncredited) — aged about 62
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