Frances Bavier Photo

Frances Bavier

Acting

0.8 Popularity Dec 14, 1902 (86 years old) Manhattan, New York, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American stage and television actress. Originally from New York theatre, Bavier worked in film and television from the 1950s. She is best known for her role of Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffit...

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American stage and television actress. Originally from New York theatre, Bavier worked in film and television from the 1950s. She is best known for her role of Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. from 1960–70. Aunt Bee logged more Mayberry years (ten) than any other character. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Comedy Actress for the role in 1967.

Bavier had roles in more than a dozen films, as well as playing a range of supporting roles on television. Career highlights include her turn as Mrs. Barley in the classic 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. In 1955, she played the rough and tough "Aunt Maggie" Sawtelle, a frontier Ma Barker-type character, in the Lone Ranger episode "Sawtelle's Saga End". In the episode, she fights with Tonto while the Lone Ranger battles with her nephew. At the conclusion, Tonto says that he would like to trade opponents next time. In 1957, she played Nora Martin, mother to Eve Arden's character on The Eve Arden Show, despite the fact that Arden was only 6 or 7 years younger than Bavier. That same year, Bavier guest-starred in the eighth episode of Perry Mason as Louise Marlow in "The Case of the Crimson Kiss".

She was in an episode of Make Room for Daddy, which featured Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor and Ron Howard as Opie Taylor. She played a character named Henrietta Perkins. The episode led to The Andy Griffith Show, and Bavier was cast in the new role of Aunt Bee. Bavier had a love-hate relationship with her famous role during the run of the show. As a New York City actress, she felt her dramatic talents were being overlooked, yet after playing Bee for eight seasons, she was the only original cast member to remain with the series in the spin-off, Mayberry R.F.D., for two additional seasons.

Filmography 40

1974
Benji Movie

as Lady with the Cat

1968
Mayberry R.F.D. TV

as Aunt Bee Taylor

1964
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. TV

as Aunt Bee Taylor

1960
The Andy Griffith Show TV

as Aunt Bee Taylor

1959
It Started with a Kiss Movie

as Mrs. Tappe

1959
1958
1957
Perry Mason TV

as Louise Marlow

1957
Sugarfoot TV

as Nancy Thomas

1956
The Blessed Midnight Movie

as Mrs. Hayes

1956
The Bad Seed Movie

as Woman at Dinner Party (uncredited)

1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV

as Mrs. Fergusen

1954
It's a Great Life TV

as Mrs. Amy Morgan

1953
Man in the Attic Movie

as Helen Harley

1953
The Danny Thomas Show TV

as Henrietta Perkins

1953
Letter to Loretta TV

as Mrs. Logan

1953
Letter to Loretta TV

as Aunt Meg

Photos 1

Frances Bavier Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Female
Birthday December 14, 1902 (86 years old)
Died December 06, 1989
Place of Birth Manhattan, New York, USA
Also Known As Frances Elizabeth Bavier
Years Active 1931 - 1974
Popularity 0.8
Career Stats
40 Total Credits
14 Movie Roles
26 TV Roles
1 Photos