One of the most beloved Hollywood stars in the history of television, in particular, was actress Frances Bavier, who died in 1989 at age 85. The likable actress became best known for her compassionate and nurturing role as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968). Technically, Bavier’s Bee wasn’t a mother, but she might as well have been. As an aunt to Griffith’s widowed and single-parent Sheriff Andy Taylor, and a grant aunt to Andy’s young son, Opie, played by Ronny Howard, Bee was just as kind and maternal to both characters as any mother would have been.
A Closer Look
After The Andy Griffith Show ended, Frances Bavier briefly reprised her role as Aunt Bee in Mayberry RFD, the three-season sequel that starred Ken Berry (and which ended in the spring of 1971).
As she did with Sheriff Taylor and little Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, Aunt Bee catered to and cared for cousin, Berry’s Sam Jones, and his son, Mike, played by Foster (Jodi’s brother), as if they were own children.
In 1985, Bavier had been invited to appear in the TV-reunion-movie, Return to Mayberry. However, she opted not to participate in the film, which brought together the entire cast of the original series, including Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, George Lindsay, and even the also-known-as Ron Howard (who had by then become famous for Happy Days and his directorial career), among others.
By that time, Bavier had become somewhat of a recluse, and simply decided not to do the reunion, despite a personal visit from Griffith and Howard requesting her to do so.
Bavier Beyond Bee
Frances Bavier was a native of New York City, who attended Columbia University and graduated from the New York American Academy of the Arts. Bavier had amassed over two decades of live theatre experience, including stints in vaudeville and on Broadway, where her credits included the F. Hugh Herbert comedy Kiss and Tell and Paul Osborn’s Point of No Return.Bavier’s list of big-screen movies included The Lady Says No and the science-fiction cult classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still.
In the End
No matter her countless other credits, Frances Bavier will be forever remembered for her benchmark role as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show.
