Hope Summers

For the comic book character, see Hope Summers (comics).

Hope Summers
Hope Summers as Clara Edwards on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show
Born	Sarah Hope Summers (1896-06-07)June 7, 1896 Mattoon, Illinois, USA
Died	June 22, 1979(1979-06-22) (aged 83) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles California
Cause of death	Heart failure
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washington
Other names	Hope Sommers
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1950–1978

Hope Summers (June 7, 1896 – June 22, 1979) was an American character actress known for her work on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD, portraying Clara Edwards.

Career

Born Sarah Hope Summers in Mattoon in Coles County in east central Illinois, Summers was the daughter of John W. Summers and the former Jennie B. Burks. She was reared in Illinois and in Walla Walla, Washington. A regional actress who had often performed in one-woman shows, Summers was past fifty when she came to Hollywood to begin her career as a character player. She made her television debut in 1951 on the series Hawkins Falls, but it was not until the late 1950s when she kicked off a career as one of the most in-demand character performers on television.

Summers first attracted attention in 1958 in the semi-regular role as Hattie Denton on the western series The Rifleman, starring Chuck Connors. She guest starred on dozens of series including Wagon Train, State Trooper, Rescue 8, Peter Gunn, Dennis the Menace, It's a Man's World, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Hazel, Gunsmoke, The Danny Thomas Show, My Three Sons, Love on a Rooftop, The Pruitts of Southampton, The Second Hundred Years, Adam-12 and The Paul Lynde Show but will be forever known for her work as Clara Edwards, Aunt Bee's slightly gossipy best friend on The Andy Griffith Show. Summers made thirty-six appearances on the program during the 1960s (in earlier episodes her character was called Bertha) as well as five appearances on the post-Griffith spinoff, Mayberry R.F.D..

Her film work usually was in quite small parts, occasionally unbilled, but she had a good-sized role in the most un-Griffith-like Rosemary's Baby in 1968.

Death

She was still a very active actress until the year before her death from congestive heart failure at age 83 in 1979. She died in Woodland Hills, California. Summers is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washington in the Masonic Section.

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1951 to 1952	Hawkins Falls	Belinda Catherwood	Unknown episodes
1957	Private Secretary	Della Loganbury	Episode: "Not Quite Paradise"
	Zero Hour!	Mrs. Summers
	Wagon Train	Unnamed passenger	"The Ruth Owens Story" (NBC-TV)
1958	Wagon Train	Mae O'Malley	"The Luke O'Malley Story"
	I Want to Live!	Ethel, Policewoman on bus	Uncredited
1958 to 1960	The Rifleman	Hattie Denton	16 episodes
1959	Maverick	Martha Abbott	Episode: "Brasada Spur"
1959	Rescue 8	Dora	Episode: "If the Bough Breaks"
1960	Inherit the Wind	Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
1961	Parrish	Mary
1961	Homicidal	Mrs. Martha Adrims	Uncredited
1961	The Children's Hour	Agatha (Tilford's maid)	Alternative title: The Loudest Whisper
1961 to 1968	The Andy Griffith Show	Clara Edwards	32 episodes
1962	Rome Adventure	Mrs. St. Uwell	Uncredited Alternative title: Lovers Must Learn
	It's a Man's World		"Drive over to Exeter"
1963	Spencer's Mountain	Mother Ida
1964	My Living Doll	Edwina	Episode: "I'll Leave It to You"
1965	Petticoat Junction	Mabel Denton	Episode: "The Crowded Wedding Ring"
1966	The Ghost and Mr. Chicken	Suzanna Blush	Uncredited
1966	Penelope	Shop Lady	Uncredited
1968	The Shakiest Gun in the West	Celia
1968	5 Card Stud	Female customer in general store	Uncredited
1968 to 1970	Mayberry R.F.D.	Clara Edwards	5 episodes
1968	Rosemary's Baby	Mrs. Gilmore
1969	The Learning Tree	Mrs. Kiner
1970	Marcus Welby, M.D.	Mrs. Whittaker	Episode: "Epidemic"
1970	Bewitched	Carolyn	Episode: "Samantha's Old Man"
1971	Hawaii Five-O	Minnie Leona Moroney	Episode: "The Bomber and Mrs. Moroney"
1972	Get to Know Your Rabbit	Mrs. Beeman
1973	Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies	Laura
1973	Charley Varrick	Mess Vesta	Alternative title: Kill Charley Varrick
1975	Chico and the Man	Lucille Nelson	Episode: "Garage Sale"
1975	Welcome Back, Kotter	Ms. Riley	Episode: "Mr. Kotter, Teacher"
1976	Little House on the Prairie	Addie Bjornesen	Episode: "The Collection"
1978	Foul Play	Ethel

External links

• Hope Summers at the Internet Movie Database
• Hope Summers at Find a Grave