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Hope Summers
Actor

Hope Summers

7 Jun 1896Born
22 Jun 1979Died
83Age at death
74Credits

Biography

Hope Summers could portray a friendly neighbor or companion as she did for Frances Bavier's Aunt Bee character on many episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (1960) or a seemingly amiable Satanist in Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Born in Mattoon, Illinois, she developed an early interest in the theater. Graduating from Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois, she subsequently taught speech and diction there. This, in turn, led to her the head position in the Speech Department at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, teaching students privately on the side as well. In the 1930s Hope began to focus on acting.

Read the full biography

She found work in community and stock theaters in Illinois and earned some notice for putting on one-woman shows such as "Backstage of Broadway." She made use of her vocal eloquence by building up her resumé on radio, performing in scores of dramatic shows, including "Authors' Playhouse," "First Night," "Ma Perkins", and "Step-Mother".

In 1950 Hope transferred her talents to the new medium of television and earned a regular role on the comedy series Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel (1950). By the age of 50 she was customarily called upon to play slightly older than she was, appearing in a number of minuscule matron roles in such films as Zero Hour! (1957), Hound-Dog Man (1959), Inherit the Wind (1960), Spencer's Mountain (1963), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), Charley Varrick (1973) and her last, Foul Play (1978). She never had any major stand-out roles in movies; TV would be a more prolific choice of medium. Her gently stern, old-fashioned looks allowed her to be a part of many small-town settings, including Dennis the Menace (1959) and Petticoat Junction (1963), and in various western locales such as Maverick (1957) and Wagon Train (1957).

She played a rustic regular for many years on The Rifleman (1958). Usually assigned to play teachers, nurses and other helpful, nurturing types, her characters were also known to be inveterate gossips. Hope worked until close to the end of her life, passing away from heart failure in 1979.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1987Evil TownFilm: Alice Wylie (as Hope Summer)
  2. 1978Smokey and the Good Time OutlawsFilm: Marcie
  3. 1978Foul PlayFilm: Ethel
  4. 1978Another DaySeries (5 episodes)
  5. 1976SnipSeries: Aunt Polly (6 episodes)
  6. 1975Starsky & HutchSeries (1 episode)
  7. 1975Welcome Back, KotterSeries (1 episode)
  8. 1975Dr. ShagetzFilm: Alice Wylie
  9. 1974Death SentenceFilm: Emily Boylan
  10. 1974Chico and the ManSeries (1 episode)
  11. 1974Little House on the PrairieSeries: Addie Bjornesen (1 episode)
  12. 1974Our TimeFilm: Biology Teacher
  13. 1974Indict and ConvictFilm: Mrs. Potter
  14. 1973Charley VarrickFilm: Mess Vesta
  15. 1973Ace Eli and Rodger of the SkiesFilm: Laura
  16. 1972M*A*S*HSeries: Nurse Meg Cratty (1 episode)
  17. 1972Where Does It Hurt?Film: Nurse Throttle
  18. 1972Get to Know Your RabbitFilm: Mrs. Beeman
  19. 1970Night GallerySeries (1 episode)
  20. 1969The Learning TreeFilm: Mrs. Kiner
  21. 1969Hawaii Five-OSeries: Minnie Leona Moroney (1 episode)
  22. 1968Mayberry R.F.D.Series: Clara Edwards (2 episodes)
  23. 1968Adam-12Series: Clara Fisher (1 episode)
  24. 19685 Card StudFilm: Customer in General Store (uncredited)
  25. 1968The Shakiest Gun in the WestFilm: Celia
  26. 1968Rosemary's BabyFilm: Mrs. Gilmore
  27. 1967The Second Hundred YearsSeries: Mrs. Hansen (1 episode)
  28. 1966PenelopeFilm: Shop Lady (uncredited)
  29. 1966That GirlSeries (1 episode)
  30. 1966Love on a RooftopSeries (1 episode)
  31. 1966The Pruitts of SouthamptonSeries (1 episode)
  32. 1966The Ghost and Mr. ChickenFilm: Susanna Blush
  33. 1965The Hallelujah TrailFilm: Mrs. Hasselrad
  34. 1964Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Series (1 episode)
  35. 1964BewitchedSeries (1 episode)
  36. 1964One Man's WayFilm: Mrs. Elwood Thompson
  37. 1963The Travels of Jaimie McPheetersSeries: Mrs. Rutledge (1 episode)
  38. 1963GlynisSeries (1 episode)
  39. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries: Mabel Denton (1 episode)
  40. 1963Spencer's MountainFilm: Mother Ida
  41. 1962The Beverly HillbilliesSeries (1 episode)
  42. 1962The CouchFilm: Mrs. Quimby
  43. 1961The Children's HourFilm: Agatha
  44. 1961The Dick Van Dyke ShowSeries (1 episode)
  45. 1961The New BreedSeries: Mrs. McCurtin (1 episode)
  46. 1961Dr. KildareSeries: Madge (1 episode)
  47. 1961Claudelle InglishFilm: Ernestine Peasley (uncredited)
  48. 1961HomicidalFilm: Martha Adrims (Uncredited)
  49. 1961Angel BabyFilm: Woman at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
  50. 1961ParrishFilm: Mary (uncredited)
  51. 1960The Andy Griffith ShowSeries: Clara Edwards (32 episodes)
  52. 1960My Three SonsSeries (2 episodes)
  53. 1960Inherit the WindFilm: Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
  54. 1959Hound-Dog ManFilm: Jewell Crouch
  55. 1959Edge of EternityFilm: Motel Attendant
  56. 1959Dennis the MenaceSeries: Mrs. Burns (1 episode)
  57. 1959The Third ManSeries: Irate woman (1 episode)
  58. 1959Law of the PlainsmanSeries: Mrs. Dodge (1 episode)
  59. 1958I Want to Live!Film: Ethel - Policewoman on Bus (uncredited)
  60. 1958U.S. MarshallSeries: Mrs. Martin (uncredited) (1 episode)
  61. 1958The RiflemanSeries: Hattie Denton (3 episodes)
  62. 1958Peter GunnSeries (2 episodes)
  63. 1957Zero Hour!Film: Older Woman
  64. 1957MaverickSeries (1 episode)
  65. 1957The Thin ManSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1956The Gale Storm ShowSeries: Angie Kirkham (1 episode)
  67. 1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries: Marie Tallendier, Maid (1 episode)
  68. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Ellen Cade, Della, Jen (1 episode)
  69. 1954Son of ManFilm: Miss Johnson
  70. 1953Letter to LorettaSeries: Nurse O'Brien (2 episodes)
  71. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: Elizabeth, Aunt, Mrs. Wagner (1 episode)
  72. 1953Private SecretarySeries (1 episode)
  73. 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSeries: Old Lady (1 episode)
  74. 1950Better Use of Leisure TimeFilm: Mrs. Michaels (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.