With an Emmy under her belt and a reputation as one of the longest-running cast members on The Andy Griffith Show, it’s no wonder that Francis Bavier had no shortage of fans during her time as Aunt Bee. With her kind but level-headed words and comforting nature, Aunt Bee was the friend and relative we’d all love to have.
One of Aunt Bee’s most distinguished characteristics was her mastery of good old-fashioned Southern comfort food. Her delicious meals (save for the pickles) were the centerpiece of many a wonderful Andy Griffith episode.
It was a quality that Bavier shared with her character. The actor said in an interview with the Sioux City Journal that she herself was also an accomplished chef.
“Of course I can cook,” she said. “In fact, I’m a very good cook — oh, maybe not a gourmet cook, but I’m very good indeed in the kitchen.”
This is why it might seem a little strange that Bavier explained how next to none of her fan letters include any sort of questions regarding culinary tips.
While it might seem odd for a fan to inquire about a character during a letter sent to the actor portraying them, it isn’t unheard of. Milburn Stone, best known for playing Doc Adams in Gunsmoke, used to get medical questions from fans who would ask for his doctorly advice. Of course, as an actor, Stone had no real credentials to help anyone with real medical problems. However, Bavier had experience in the kitchen and could have easily offered some useful cooking tips. So why did no one reach out?
Bavier had her theories. “After all, we don’t go in for exotic things on the show,” she said. “Pork chops, chicken, roast beef, things like that. I think once we did something involving crab meat. But of course, I don’t really cook food for the show. The staff man tends to that.”
So while fans weren’t too keen on writing to Bavier for cooking advice, they still loved Aunt Bee enough that it was almost as though she were a real person.
