Frances Bavier - wikipedia Frances Bavier This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2009 ) Frances Bavier Frances in 1964. Frances Elizabeth Bavier ( 1902 - 12 - 14 ) December 14, 1902 New York City, New York, U.S. December 6, 1989 ( 1989 - 12 - 06 ) ( aged 86 ) Siler City, North Carolina, U.S. Resting place Oaklawn Cemetery, Siler City, North Carolina, U.S. Other names Hazel Howard Alma mater Columbia University American Academy of Dramatic Arts Occupation Actress Years active 1927 -- 1974 Known for The Andy Griffith Show Mayberry R.F.D. 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. Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Later years 3 Death 4 Filmography 5 Television credits 6 References 7 External links Early life and career Born in New York City in a brownstone on Gramercy Park to Charles S., a stationary engineer, and Mary S. ( née Birmingham ) Bavier, Frances originally planned to become a teacher after attending Columbia University. She first appeared in vaudeville, later moving to the Broadway stage. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1925, she was cast in the stage comedy The Poor Nut. Bavier 's big break came in the original Broadway production of On Borrowed Time. She later appeared with Henry Fonda in the play Point of No Return. 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. In contrast to her character, Bavier was easily offended on the set, and the production staff took a very cautious approach when communicating with her. Series star Andy Griffith once admitted the two clashed sometimes during the series ' long run. In an April 24, 1998, appearance on Larry King Live, Griffith said Bavier phoned him four months before she died and apologized for being `` difficult '' during the series ' run. Bavier won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy in 1967. Later years 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 said, `` I fell in love with North Carolina, all the pretty roads and the trees. '' Bavier never married or had children. Somewhat awkward in one - on - one relationships, she was nonetheless altruistic at heart. 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. Death On November 22, 1989, Bavier was admitted to Chatham Hospital, where she 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, eight days before her 87th birthday. The immediate causes of death were listed as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis, with supporting factors being breast cancer, arthritis, and COPD. Upon her death, she was found to have had 14 cats and worn furniture, fixtures, and carpet. She was described ``... as living a sparse life in her latter years, a very quiet life ''. 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. '' Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1931 Girls About Town Joy 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still Mrs. Barley 1952 The Lady Says No Aunt Alice Hatch 1952 Bend of the River Mrs. Prentiss Alternative title : Where the River Bends 1952 Sally and Saint Anne Mrs. Kitty `` Mom '' O'Moyne 1952 My Wife 's Best Friend Mrs. Chamberlain 1952 Horizons West Martha Hammond 1952 Stooge, The The Stooge Mrs. Rogers 1953 Man in the Attic Helen Harley 1956 Bad Seed, The The Bad Seed Woman in dinner party scene Uncredited 1958 A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed Mrs. Solitaire Alternative title : How to Rob a Bank 1959 It Started with a Kiss Mrs. Tappe Benji Lady with cat Television credits Year Title Role Notes 1952 Racket Squad Martha Carver 1 episode 1952 -- 1953 Gruen Guild Playhouse Sarah Cummings 2 episodes 1953 Hallmark Hall of Fame Lou Bloor 1 episode 1953 -- 1954 City Detective Various roles 3 episodes 1953 -- 1954 Letter to Loretta Various roles 3 episodes 1953 -- 1955 Dragnet Hazel Howard 3 episodes 1954 Pepsi - Cola Playhouse, The The Pepsi - Cola Playhouse Thelma 2 episodes 1954 -- 1955 Waterfront Martha Amy 2 episodes 1954 -- 1956 It 's a Great Life Mrs. Amy Morgan 62 episodes 1955 Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger Aunt Maggie Sawtelle 1 episode 1955 Soldiers of Fortune Amelia Lilly 1 episode 1955 Damon Runyon Theater 1 episode 1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents : Revenge Mrs. Fergusen 1 episode 1956 Lux Video Theatre 1 episode 1956 Cavalcade of America Mrs. Hayes 1 episode 1957 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre 1 episode 1957 General Electric Theater Miss Trimingham 1 episode 1957 Perry Mason Louise Marlow 1 episode 1957 -- 1958 Eve Arden Show, The The Eve Arden Show Mrs. Nora Martin 5 episodes 1958 Colgate Theatre 1 episode 1959 Ann Sothern Show, The The Ann Sothern Show Mrs. Wallace 1 episode 1959 Thin Man, The The Thin Man 1 episode 1959 Sugarfoot Aunt Nancy Thomas 1 episode 1959 Wagon Train Sister Joseph 1 episode - `` The Sister Rita Story '' 1959 77 Sunset Strip Grandma Fenwick 1 episode 1960 Danny Thomas Show, The The Danny Thomas Show Henrietta Perkins 1 episode 1960 Rawhide Ellen Ferguson 1 episode 1960 -- 1968 Andy Griffith Show, The The Andy Griffith Show Aunt Beatrice `` Bee '' Taylor 175 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress -- Comedy Series ( 1967 ) 1967 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Aunt Bee Taylor 1 episode 1968 -- 1970 Mayberry R.F.D. Aunt Bee Taylor 24 episodes References Jump up ^ `` Childhood Jealousy Leads Frances Bavier to Stage ''. The Ogden Standard - Examiner : pg. 13. June 26, 1936. Jump up ^ `` Frances Bavier Dead ; TV Performer Was 86 ''. The New York Times. 1989 - 12 - 08. Retrieved 2009 - 05 - 14. ^ Jump up to : Carp, Randy. `` Aunt Bee : Sex Symbol and Diva ? ''. Fans Pages. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Kelly, Richard Michael ( 1985 ). The Andy Griffith Show. pp. 13 -- 14. ISBN 0 - 89587 - 043 - 6. Jump up ^ `` The case of ' Griffith Show ' mourns Frances Bavier ''. Chicago Tribune. December 8, 1989. Retrieved August 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` ' Andy Griffith ' Aunt Bee Recluse in Final Years ''. Los Angeles Times. January 17, 1990. Retrieved August 13, 2016. Jump up ^ Frances Bavier death certificate, autopsyfiles.org ; accessed September 28, 2016. Jump up ^ Hoffman, James L. ; Grizzle, Ralph ( 2007 ). Day Trips From Raleigh - Durham. Globe Pequot. pp. 184 -- 86. ISBN 0 - 7627 - 4543 - 6. External links Biography portal Frances Bavier on IMDb Frances Bavier at the Internet Broadway Database Frances Bavier at AllMovie Frances Elizabeth Bavier at Find a Grave Frances Bavier Papers, 1930s - 1990 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a 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 ) Sally Struthers / Valerie Harper ( TIE ) ( 1972 ) Valerie Harper ( 1973 ) Cloris Leachman ( 1974 ) Betty White ( 1975 ) Betty White ( 1976 ) Mary Kay Place ( 1977 ) Julie Kavner ( 1978 ) Sally Struthers ( 1979 ) Loretta Swit ( 1980 ) Eileen Brennan ( 1981 ) Loretta Swit ( 1982 ) Carol Kane ( 1983 ) Rhea Perlman ( 1984 ) Rhea Perlman ( 1985 ) Rhea Perlman ( 1986 ) Jackée Harry ( 1987 ) Estelle Getty ( 1988 ) Rhea Perlman ( 1989 ) Bebe Neuwirth ( 1990 ) Bebe Neuwirth ( 1991 ) Laurie Metcalf ( 1992 ) Laurie Metcalf ( 1993 ) Laurie Metcalf ( 1994 ) Christine Baranski ( 1995 ) Julia Louis - Dreyfus ( 1996 ) Kristen Johnston ( 1997 ) Lisa Kudrow ( 1998 ) Kristen Johnston ( 1999 ) Megan Mullally ( 2000 ) Doris Roberts ( 2001 ) Doris Roberts ( 2002 ) Doris Roberts ( 2003 ) Cynthia Nixon ( 2004 ) Doris Roberts ( 2005 ) Megan Mullally ( 2006 ) Jaime Pressly ( 2007 ) Jean Smart ( 2008 ) Kristin Chenoweth ( 2009 ) Jane Lynch ( 2010 ) Julie Bowen ( 2011 ) Julie Bowen ( 2012 ) Merritt Wever ( 2013 ) Allison Janney ( 2014 ) Allison Janney ( 2015 ) Kate McKinnon ( 2016 ) Kate McKinnon ( 2017 ) VIAF : 28601553 ISNI : 0000 0001 1469 8559 BNF : cb14153802j ( data ) IATH : w6c03w78 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frances_Bavier&oldid=801121244 '' Categories : 1902 births 1989 deaths Actresses from New York City 20th - century American actresses American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Disease - related deaths in North Carolina Columbia University alumni Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Chatham County, North Carolina Vaudeville performers Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from May 2009 All articles needing additional references Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2016 Articles with IBDb links Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Español فارسی Français Italiano 日本 語 Polski Русский Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Tagalog اردو Edit links This page was last edited on 17 September 2017, at 20 : 01. 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Question: who was the actress that played aunt bea
Answer: Frances Elizabeth Bavier