Hope Summers
Known for Acting · 71 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)
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Clara Edwards
Bewitched
1964
M*A*S*H
1972
as Nurse Meg Cratty
Maverick
1957
Adam-12
1968
as Clara Fisher
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Minnie Leona Moroney
Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Addie Bjornesen
The Rifleman
1958
as Hattie Denton
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Mabel Denton
Dr. Kildare
1961
as Madge
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
My Three Sons
1960
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Night Gallery
1970
That Girl
1966
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961
Gunsmoke
1955
as Ellen Cade / Della / Jen
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1964
Peter Gunn
1958
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Marie Tallendier / Maid
Dennis the Menace
1959
as Mrs. Burns
Mayberry R.F.D.
1968
as Clara Edwards
Chico and the Man
1974
The Third Man
1959
as Irate woman
Law of the Plainsman
1959
as Mrs. Dodge
The Thin Man
1957
The New Breed
1961
as Mrs. McCurtin
The Second Hundred Years
1967
as Mrs. Hansen
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1963
as Mrs. Rutledge
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Nurse O'Brien
Welcome Back, Kotter
1975
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
Love on a Rooftop
1966
General Electric Theater
1953
as Elizabeth / Mrs. Wagner / Aunt
Glynis
1963
Private Secretary
1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Old Lady
Snip
1976
as Aunt Polly
Another Day
1978
Movies (32)
Rosemary's Baby
1968
as Mrs. Gilmore
Foul Play
1978
as Ethel
Charley Varrick
1973
as Mess Vesta
Spencer's Mountain
1963
as Mother Ida
The Children's Hour
1961
as Agatha
I Want to Live!
1958
as Ethel - Policewoman on Bus (uncredited)
Inherit the Wind
1960
as Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
Penelope
1966
as Shop Lady (uncredited)
Death Sentence
1974
as Emily Boylan
The Hallelujah Trail
1965
as Mrs. Hasselrad
Parrish
1961
as Mary (uncredited)
Zero Hour!
1957
as Older Woman
The Shakiest Gun in the West
1968
as Celia
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
1966
as Susanna Blush
Evil Town
1987
as Alice Wylie (as Hope Summer)
Angel Baby
1961
as Woman at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
Edge of Eternity
1959
as Motel Attendant
The Learning Tree
1969
as Mrs. Kiner
Homicidal
1961
as Martha Adrims (Uncredited)
The Couch
1962
as Mrs. Quimby
Claudelle Inglish
1961
as Ernestine Peasley (uncredited)
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
1973
as Laura
Get to Know Your Rabbit
1972
as Mrs. Beeman
Our Time
1974
as Biology Teacher
Hound-Dog Man
1959
as Jewell Crouch
One Man's Way
1964
as Mrs. Elwood Thompson
Indict and Convict
1974
as Mrs. Potter
Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws
1978
as Marcie
Dr. Shagetz
1975
as Alice Wylie
Where Does It Hurt?
1972
as Nurse Throttle
Son of Man
1954
as Miss Johnson
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 71 credits spanning from 1950 to 1987, Hope Summers has appeared in 32 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
- Charley Varrick (1973) — as Mess Vesta
- Spencer's Mountain (1963) — as Mother Ida
- The Children's Hour (1961) — as Agatha
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.