The Andy Griffith Show Trivia: Frances Bavier appeared in the pilot episode as a different character than Aunt Bee

Aunt Bee's debut

Frances Bavier is best known for her role as Aunt Bee (Beatrice) Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show. She debuted in the first episode The New Housekeeper and appeared in all eight seasons of the TV series from 1960 to 1968 and also on Mayberry RFD (1968-1970).

When Aunt Bee first came to Mayberry, Opie Taylor (Ron Howard) was mourning the fact that his previous housekeeper, Rose, (Mary Treen) had married and moved away.

He was not kind to Aunt Bee, because she did not know how to fish and accidently let his pet bird escape. She eventually decided to leave town. Just before Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) was about to drive his aunt to the bus station, Opie had a change of heart and asked his great aunt to stay.

Bavier became a recluse

Bavier became somewhat reclusive in her later years and did not join the cast of the 1986 television film Return to Mayberry. She said that it was difficult transitioning from Aunt Bee to Frances and not knowing if fans loved her or her character.

There were also rumors that she and Griffith did not get along during the series run. In an interview, Griffith said the two lost touch, but Bavier reached out to him shortly before she died.

What some fans may not know is that Bavier was in the pilot episode of The Andy Griffith Show, which aired on The Danny Thomas Show in 1960.

Bavier as Henrietta Perkins

In the episode Danny Meets Andy Griffith she briefly appeared as a character named Henrietta Perkins. Henrietta was a Mayberry resident unable to pay her taxes because she used all her money to rent a funeral suit for her deceased husband, Charlie, from a thrift store.

She wanted him to "look successful" in death, and he was buried in the clothing, and Mrs. Perkins could not return them. Mr. Johnson (Will Wright), who owned the second-hand store, wanted to sue her. Wright went on to portray Ben Weaver on The Andy Griffith Show.

Frances Bavier as Mrs. Fergusen

If you enjoy binge-watching the old Black & White television shows as I do, you will notice some of your favorite actors appeared on Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and or The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

In the premier episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955): Revenge, Bavier portrays Mrs. Fergusen, a trailer park resident. She costarred with Ralph Meeker (Carl Spann) and Vera Miles (Elsa Spann), a couple who live in a nearby trailer.

Elsa was a ballerina who was having a mental health crisis but she got along with Mrs. Fergusen, who seemed sympathetic to the young bride. One evening, Carl returns home to find the trailer in disarray.

Bavier's character tries to help because Elsa went to sleep with the oven on, and smoke is everywhere. Mrs. Fergusen was there to assist but was not in the remainder of the episode.

Bavier's difficult relationship with Aunt Bee.

Francis Bavier was said to have been married early in her career, but there is no official record or mention of her having children. She was trained in the theater, which caused some discomfort when portraying Aunt Bee Taylor. She did not like being identified by that one character, which is common for many actors with memorable roles.

It is unfortunate but true that of all her many accolades, it was Bee Taylor with whom she was associated the most. The actress was in many television series, including an episode of Perry Mason in 1957. She also appeared in fourteen films, and an uncredited role in The Bad Seed (1955); her last mmovie role was in Benji in 1974.