Frances Bavier

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Frances Bavier

Frances Bavier as "Aunt Bee" in her kitchen and apron, from "The Mayberry Chef", a color seasons episode.
Born Frances Elizabeth Bavier
December 14, 1902 (1902-12-14)
New York City, New York
Died December 6, 1989 (aged 86)
Siler City, North Carolina
Occupation Film, stage, television actress
Years active 1930-1974

Frances Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American Emmy Award-winning character actress, best remembered for her role as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. from 1960 to 1970. Her role of Aunt Bee earned her an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actress in 1967, making her one of only two cast members on either show to win an Emmy Award (Don Knotts is the other).

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Career

In addition to her years in Mayberry, Bavier performed on Broadway and in more than a dozen films, as well playing 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.

Bavier had a love-hate relationship with her most famous role, Aunt Bee. As a New York actress, she felt her dramatic talents were being overlooked. At the same time, she played Aunt Bee for ten seasons, longer than any other Mayberry character. Her career illustrates the paradox facing many strongly "typed" performers. Audiences took at face value her portrayal of a warm, nurturing matron, but co-workers and others who interacted with her reportedly often found her cool and uneasy. Bavier and Andy Griffith did not get along well on the set. Andy Griffith had addressed the fact that the two sometimes clashed during The Andy Griffith Show's run. The actress was easily slighted, and the production staff would often appease her by "walking on eggshells". 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. Her medical condition prevented her from taking part in the 1986 television movie, Return to Mayberry.

[edit] Later years

In 1972, Bavier, bought a home in Siler City, North Carolina, sight unseen, and retired from acting. 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.

[edit] Death

The day before Thanksgiving 1989, Bavier was admitted to Chatham Hospital. Frances 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 in 1989, just eight days before her 87th birthday.[1]

Bavier was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City. Her tombstone is emblazoned with the name of her most famous role, "Aunt Bee".

Bavier's will bequeathed her home to the Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and some contents of the home went to the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television. On June 20, 1990, Bavier's belongings were auctioned off, including her wardrobe from The Andy Griffith Show and a 1966 Studebaker. Frances had last driven in the car in 1983.[1] After her death, it was found in her garage, sitting on four flat tires, its interior having been ruined by her many cats. Despite its deterioration, two Andy Griffith fans bought it for US$20,000 at the auction.[2]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Death of Frances Bavier Aunt Bee
  2. ^ Frances Bavier - Biography

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series

Vivian Vance (1953) · Audrey Meadows (1954) · Nanette Fabray (1955) · Pat Carroll (1956) · Ann B. Davis (1957) · Ann B. Davis (1959) · Alice Pearce (1966) · Frances Bavier (1967) · Marion Lorne (1968) · Karen Valentine (1970) · Valerie Harper (1971) · Valerie Harper (1972) · Valerie Harper (1973) · Cloris Leachman (1974) · Betty White (1975)