Friday, August 17, 2012

WHAT A CHARACTER: FRANCES BAVIER

I was not even born when the legendary television series "The Andy Griffith Show" first aired. However, reruns of the landmark show were a big part of my childhood. There was something appealing and heartwarming about the little town of Mayberry on the show. (Even though there was never anyone other than white people in the town!)

With the death of the show's namesake, Andy Griffith, I have rediscovered the show. The characters and the actors that played them made the show from Andy Griffith to Ron Howard to Don Knotts. Not to be forgotten is the great Aunt Bee - played to countryspun perfection by actress Frances Bavier. Bavier was a complex woman who was much different than her easy going character on television.

Born in New York City in 1902, Bavier attended Columbia University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before embarking on a career in acting. She first appeared in vaudeville, later moving to the Broadway stage. Bavier had roles in more than a dozen films, as well as having played a range of supporting roles on television. Career highlights include the play Point of No Return, alongside Henry Fonda, and her turn as Mrs. Barley in the classic 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. In 1957 she played Nora Martin, mother to Eve Arden in the short-lived series The Eve Arden Show.


Bavier had a love-hate relationship with her most famous role, Aunt Bee, during The Andy Griffith Show. As a New York actress, she felt her dramatic talents were being overlooked. At the same time, she played Aunt Bee for eight seasons and was the only original cast member to remain with the series in the spin-off Mayberry R.F.D., staying two additional seasons. In contrast to her affable character Aunt Bee, Bavier was easily slighted and the production staff would often appease her by "walking on eggshells." She won the Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy in 1967. Series star Andy Griffith addressed the fact that the two sometimes clashed during the series' run. According to Griffith (Larry King Live, April 24, 1998), Bavier phoned him four months before she died, and said she was deeply sorry for being "difficult" during the series' run.


In 1972, Bavier retired from acting and bought a home in Siler City, North Carolina. On choosing to live in North Carolina instead of her native New York, Bavier stated in an interview that, "I fell in love with North Carolina, all the pretty roads and the trees." She briefly returned to acting in 1974 in the family film Benji. Bavier never married or had children. Seemingly awkward in one-on-one relationships, she seemed to be charitable to the needs of organizations and fans.According to a 1981 article by Chip Womick, a staff writer of The Courier Tribune, Bavier enthusiastically promoted Christmas and Easter Seal Societies from her Siler City home, and often wrote inspirational letters to fans who sought autographs. Overly zealous fans however, often invaded both her property and privacy, and Bavier became reclusive.

Bavier's medical condition prevented her from taking part in the 1986 television movie Return to Mayberry.

Frances Bavier had been a fan of Studebaker cars since the thirties. In Mayberry R.F.D., she drove her own 1966 Daytona 2 door Sports Sedan (which was the last model of the South Bend factory, though produced in Canada from 1964 to 1966). She kept this car in perfect state while alive and refused to purchase a new car when her driver suggested it. As her health failed it sat idle in her garage and was found with four flat tires, and a ruined interior from her many cats. . It was auctioned for $20,000 one year after her death, and is still in the same condition as it was found. The new owners felt if it was restored, then it would no longer be Aunt Bee's Studebaker. She was also a member of the Studebakers Drivers Club.

On November 22, 1989, Bavier was admitted to Chatham Hospital. She was suffering from both heart disease and cancer and was kept in the coronary care unit for two weeks. She was discharged on December 4, 1989, and died at her home two days later of a heart attack. Bavier is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City. Her headstone includes the name of her most famous role, "Aunt Bee" and reads, "To live in the hearts of those left behind is not to die"...

29 comments:

  1. if you'll look closely, there are black people in many of the episodes.

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    1. Yes you are absolutely right. I was shocked. However, very happy. I loved Andy Griffith. I sensed him to be a good man with good value. I just could imagine him as a small minded person who allowed color to be his judge of character.

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    2. Really I must have missed those episodes

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    4. i do not recall seeing other races than white on that show.

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    5. You will see a colored face at times likely in a crowd street scene.

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    6. Why is it a big deal if there were black , green, yellow, red, orange, pink, white, purple, blue or brown people

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    7. Oh...its normal is all i.meant..i live in Hawaii among all kinds of folks..in Mayberry in the early 60s it was considered a bit liberal..to.integrate the yown..Andy Griffith was a good man.

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  2. Andy showed lessons in life never hurt feelings of friends or acquainted friends

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    1. I Think there might have been one or two episode where there was 0ne of two blacks walking in the scene. The show did not have blacks with part in the show.

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  3. I have seen every episode over and over again and there are quite a few blacks considering the time this show was made.

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  4. No there was just a few. The most I saw in any show was 2.

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  5. The Andy Griffin Show was wholesome and as a person of color I never felt any racist undertones when watching it. I just laughed at all the comedy especially when Don Knots were in the episodes.

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  6. Does it really matter? How many whites are on black shows now? Can you imagine having an all white show now but there are all black shows, magazines, and everything else. blacks really need to get over themselves.

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  7. DON'T GET YOUR BLOOMERS IN A TWIST.

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  8. Watch episode 7 from season 4 and notice the crowd that gathers to get a look at the gold truck. You will find that not only white people lived in Mayberry.

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  9. I just LOVED the Andy Griffith show. My all-time favorite. Each character had something to offer and the actors were superb in their roles. They made it a place where you would want to live.

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  10. I’m watching return to Mayberry now. I watch every episode when on if I’m home and have for years seeing each episode numerous times to know dialogue and still laugh. Nothing like it since.

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  11. Probably not exaggerating if I say have seen all episodes DOZENS of times. I love it, all the characters and even though pretty much know the dialogue. Pickle, escaped convicts and motorcycle episodes to name a few favorites. As long as I’m and it’s on count me in . Love it

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  12. I remember watching the show when I was just a kid and now that I'm in my older years still continue to watch it and still laugh when watching the episodes. The show always brought a smile to you're face. The cast was perfect for that show. Absolutely love it, wish there were more shows today like "Andy of Mayberry" 💝

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  13. I don't know how this thread got to be about blacks on the Mayberry show. I got her by looking up "Aunt Bee" I hadn't realized just what a beauty she was as a young woman. My Grandmother had her voice, dressed like her, down to the shoes when I was a child in the 1950s. So, I've naturally always liked FRANCES BAVIER as Aunt Bee.

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  14. In 1967-68 Frances played the electric harpsichord in Ronnie Howard's short lived rock band. There was an Andy Griffith episode from the last season that featured Ronnie Howard playing in his band, but sadly the scenes with Frances playing the electric harpsichord where cut from the syndication prints. I would love to see this episode again completely uncut as it aired 50 years ago.

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    1. Oh that must be kewl.id like to see it also. Did u see the guy plowing his fields at night, & Barney an Andy r sneaking up..he asks Andy..do tbink he's growing marijuana? ...it's been edited for the commercial nearly every time I've seen tbat episode but once..I nearly fell outta my chair laughing ...to hear that.

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    2. I remember the Medicine man episode. She played the fire out of the pianio...until they got busted by Andy...LOL

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  15. I'm sure Macnair (Floyd the barber) thought it was over after his stroke. But you have to admit the effect it had on his approach and comedic timing of the character to a level he could never have imagined!! Stealing every scene- with that cast- is quite an accomplishment. but he did it!!! RIP HOWARD

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  16. There was a black football coach in a color episode. I love TAGS, and watch it daily.

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  17. Yes that man was a famous athlete i think..but others as well early 60s I've seen in 2nd or 3rd season too.

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