The Troubled Off-Screen Life Behind Frances Bavier's Portrayal Of Aunt Bee

Jul 19, 2022 by apost team

In the world of entertainment, countless actors and actresses have been linked so strongly to a popular role that the public can hardly shake off their fictional personas. Think Fran Drescher of “The Nanny” fame or Chandler Bing as played by Matthew Perry in “Friends” or Mr. T’s turn as B.A. Baracus in the long-running series “The A-Team.”

Aunt Bee from “The Andy Griffith Show, " added to the list,” played by Manhattan native Frances Bavier. The 175-episode show ran from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, and centered on the life of widowed sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Griffith, as he raises his son Opie, played by a young Ron Howard. The show, set in the fictional town of Mayberry, also includes a host of characters, with the wholesome, well-meaning Aunt Bee among its most popular.

Aunt Bee is the paternal aunt of sheriff Taylor, and throughout the show’s eight-season run, her character remained one of the moral centers of the wholesome fictional community. From the second season onwards, Aunt Bee’s character would see at least one romantic dalliance, from a flirtation with a traveling medicine man to a mountain man who carries her to his cabin. These would never blossom into a full-blown romance, however, but they still left audiences thoroughly entertained.

“The Andy Griffith Show” was well-received throughout its entire run and ended on a high when its last season became the No. 1 show on television in 1967-68. While praise, awards and fame were bestowed upon all its actors, for Bavier, this was both a blessing and a curse.

Bavier was born on Dec. 14, 1902, and made her first foray into the entertainment industry through vaudeville before shifting to Broadway. After a stint in 1925 at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Bavier took on more stage and film roles before joining Griffith and Howard in an episode of “Make Room For Daddy,” leading to her being cast in “The Andy Griffith Show.” 

However, her relationships with cast members of the show have been notoriously fractious. A part of this stemmed from the fact that Bavier related very little to her homey and warm character known for baking pies and ensuring little Opie washed up before dinner. She explained her love-hate relationship with the role, saying she felt “trapped” by it.

“It is very difficult for an actress… to create a role and to be so identified that you as a person no longer exist and all the recognition you get is for a part that is created on the screen,” Bavier said in an interview. 

This may be behind why many co-stars described her as difficult on set. Bavier said in 1966, “You can’t be an actress for 40 years, living in a world of make-believe, and not be affected. She added, “Sooner or later, your mind begins to click and in my case, you are wise to seek professional help to help stop being Aunt Bee after work. It’s terribly difficult because Aunt Bee is so much nicer than the real me.” 

Producer Richard Linke said that Bavier “was very touchy and moody due to her age,” but in a 1998 interview with Larry King, Griffith said Bavier had called him months before her death in 1989, apologizing for being “difficult” on the set.

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The final chapters of Bavier’s life would prove to be lonesome and tragic. After the show’s conclusion, she would reprise her role as Aunt Bee in the spin-off “Mayberry R.F.D.” and retire after its conclusion in 1972. She moved to little-known Siler City in North Carolina, living in a sparsely furnished house and rarely interacting with the community. She withdrew from public life almost entirely, preferring the company of her 14 cats.

As for marriage, while it was speculated that she was married briefly to a military man Russell Carpenter early in her career, this has not been confirmed. Alone in Siler City, neighbors quickly realized that Bavier was no real-life Aunt Bee, who chose to live a reclusive life that rarely saw her leave her house.

Just days before her 87th birthday, Bavier passed away. The causes of death were listed as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis, alongside supporting factors breast cancer, arthritis and COPD. According to UPI, while Bavier was warded at the Chatham County Hospital, she had told staff there that she would refuse any visitors except her former co-stars Griffith, Don Knotts or Howard. However, none of them ever visited her.

Thus Bavier passed without too much fanfare, although she showed tremendous generosity by leaving a $100,000 trust fund for the Siler City police department, the dividends of which are shared by about 20 members of the force every December.

While Bavier did not herself lead the wholesome and prim life she depicted for audiences, fans continued to celebrate Aunt Bee and cherish the memories of watching her in their living rooms week after week. 

Were you a fan of "The Andy Griffith Show?" Are you surprised by the difference between Frances Bavier and her on-screen persona? Let us know, and pass this on to your friends and family.