Good Ol’ Mayberry: Behind The Scenes Info, Shocking Scandals, And More

Frances Bavier

Apparently, Andy didn’t always get along with all of his leading ladies. The actress who played Aunt Bee, Frances Bavier, was a bit of pretentious personality. She was from New York City and had been born into wealth, she attended both the prestigious Columbia University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Allegedly Frances and Andy had quite the tense relationship, Andy loved to joke and well, Frances didn’t much care for such foolishness.

Frances never returned home to New York, and instead, she remained in North Carolina, where The Andy Griffith Show was shot. The town had become her home and she had fallen in love with it. Before Frances passed away in 1989, she called Andy Griffith and apologized to him for being difficult during filming. Frances passed away at age 86.

Crazy Info about the Pyles!

The goofy Pyle family, which included both the lovable Gomer Pyle and dopey cousin Goober, were played by notable actors Jim Nabors and George Lindsey, respectively. After The Andy Griffith Show ended, Jim Nabors starred in a spin-off feature the famous character Gomer. Jim Nabors publicly came out as gay in 2013, when he was able to marry his long-term partner of 38 years.

Nabors reportedly said, “I’m 82 and he’s in his 60s and so we’ve been together for 38 years and I’m not ashamed of people knowing, it’s just that it was such a personal thing, I didn’t tell anybody.” Originally George Lindsay had tried out for the part of Gomer. Later in life, George started the George Lindsey Celebrity Weekend and Golf Tournament. He was able to raise over $1,000,000 for the Alabama Special Olympics. George Lindsey passed away in 2012, at the age of 83.