Hope Summers
Known for Acting · 72 credits
- Born
- 1896-06-07
- Died
- 1979-06-22
- Place of birth
- Mattoon, Illinois, USA
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. 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
TV Shows (39)
Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Addie Bjornesen
The Rifleman
1958
as Hattie Denton
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Clara Edwards
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Minnie Leona Moroney
Maverick
1957
M*A*S*H
1972
as Nurse Meg Cratty
Bewitched
1964
Adam-12
1968
as Clara Fisher
My Three Sons
1960
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Mabel Denton
Peter Gunn
1958
Dr. Kildare
1961
as Madge
Dennis the Menace
1959
as Mrs. Burns
Gunsmoke
1955
as Ellen Cade / Della / Jen
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1964
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Night Gallery
1970
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Marie Tallendier / Maid
That Girl
1966
Mayberry R.F.D.
1968
as Clara Edwards
Chico and the Man
1974
The Third Man
1959
as Irate woman
The New Breed
1961
as Mrs. McCurtin
Private Secretary
1953
Law of the Plainsman
1959
as Mrs. Dodge
The Thin Man
1957
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Nurse O'Brien
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1963
as Mrs. Rutledge
The Second Hundred Years
1967
as Mrs. Hansen
Love on a Rooftop
1966
Welcome Back, Kotter
1975
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Old Lady
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
General Electric Theater
1953
as Elizabeth / Mrs. Wagner / Aunt
Glynis
1963
Snip
1976
as Aunt Polly
Another Day
1978
Movies (33)
Rosemary's Baby
1968
as Mrs. Gilmore
Foul Play
1978
as Ethel
5 Card Stud
1968
as Customer in General Store (uncredited)
Inherit the Wind
1960
as Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
Charley Varrick
1973
as Mess Vesta
Where Does It Hurt?
1972
as Nurse Throttle
Homicidal
1961
as Martha Adrims (Uncredited)
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
1966
as Susanna Blush
The Hallelujah Trail
1965
as Mrs. Hasselrad
Hound-Dog Man
1959
as Jewell Crouch
I Want to Live!
1958
as Ethel - Policewoman on Bus (uncredited)
The Children's Hour
1961
as Agatha
Spencer's Mountain
1963
as Mother Ida
Get to Know Your Rabbit
1972
as Mrs. Beeman
Penelope
1966
as Shop Lady (uncredited)
Zero Hour!
1957
as Older Woman
Evil Town
1987
as Alice Wylie (as Hope Summer)
The Shakiest Gun in the West
1968
as Celia
Edge of Eternity
1959
as Motel Attendant
Indict and Convict
1974
as Mrs. Potter
Death Sentence
1974
as Emily Boylan
Claudelle Inglish
1961
as Ernestine Peasley (uncredited)
Angel Baby
1961
as Woman at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
Parrish
1961
as Mary (uncredited)
The Couch
1962
as Mrs. Quimby
One Man's Way
1964
as Mrs. Elwood Thompson
The Learning Tree
1969
as Mrs. Kiner
Son of Man
1954
as Miss Johnson
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
1973
as Laura
Our Time
1974
as Biology Teacher
Dr. Shagetz
1975
as Alice Wylie
Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws
1978
as Marcie
Better Use of Leisure Time
1950
as Mrs. Michaels (uncredited)
About Hope Summers
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 priva… With 72 credits spanning from 1950 to 1987, Hope Summers has appeared in 33 films and 39 TV shows.
Fans searching for Hope Summers movies, Hope Summers filmography, or the latest projects starring Hope Summers can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Hope Summers Movies
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) — as Mrs. Gilmore
- Foul Play (1978) — as Ethel
- 5 Card Stud (1968) — as Customer in General Store (uncredited)
- Inherit the Wind (1960) — as Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
- Charley Varrick (1973) — as Mess Vesta
Where to Watch Hope Summers Films
Most Hope Summers movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Hope Summers, check our movies catalogue and browse page.