Person Biography:
Hope Summers was an American actress, born in Mattoon, Illinois, who developed an early interest in theater. She graduated from Northwestern School of Speech in Evanston, Illinois, and went on to teach speech and diction there. Summers later became the head of the Speech Department at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where she taught privately on the side.
In the 1930s, Summers began focusing on acting, finding work in community and stock theaters in Illinois. She gained recognition for her one-woman shows, including "Backstage of Broadway." Summers also built her resume on radio, performing in numerous dramatic shows.
In 1950, Summers transitioned to television, landing a regular role on the comedy series Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel. She continued to work in television, playing slightly older than her actual age in various roles, including minuscule matron parts in films such 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 Foul Play (1978).
Summers appeared in numerous television shows, including Dennis the Menace (1959),Petticoat Junction (1963),Maverick (1957),and Wagon Train (1957). She played a rustic regular for many years on The Rifleman (1958),often portraying teachers, nurses, and other helpful characters. Summers was known for her gently stern, old-fashioned looks, which allowed her to fit into many small-town and western settings.
Throughout her career, Summers worked until close to the end of her life, passing away from heart failure in 1979.
