<P> After the trial, Ruth is diagnosed with cancer, becomes very ill, and eventually dies . Following her death, the café closes . Over time, many Whistle Stop residents eventually move away, bringing Ninny to the end of her story, but not before the revelation of what really happened to Frank . Sipsey killed him with a blow to the head with a heavy cast iron frying pan while trying to prevent him from kidnapping Buddy, Jr . Idgie got Big George to barbecue Frank's body, which was later served to an investigator from Georgia searching for him . The investigator ate with gusto, proclaiming his meal the best pork barbecue he'd ever tasted . </P> <P> Evelyn discovers that during Ninny's temporary stay at the nursing home, her house was condemned and torn down . Evelyn, having become friends with her, offers her a room in her house which she accepts . As they walk away from the empty lot where her house used to be, they pass Ruth's grave, freshly adorned with a jar of honey, a honeycomb, and a card which reads, "I'll always love you, the Bee Charmer". The Bee Charmer is Ruth's old nickname for Idgie, and the note reveals that she is still alive . </P> <Ul> <Li> Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch </Li> <Li> Mary Stuart Masterson & Nancy Moore Atchison as Imogene "Idgie" Threadgoode </Li> <Li> Mary - Louise Parker as Ruth Jamison </Li> <Li> Jessica Tandy as Ninny Threadgoode </Li> <Li> Cicely Tyson as Sipsey </Li> <Li> Chris O'Donnell as Buddy Threadgoode </Li> <Li> Stan Shaw as Big George </Li> <Li> Gailard Sartain as Ed Couch </Li> <Li> Timothy Scott as Smokey Lonesome </Li> <Li> Gary Basaraba as Grady Kilgore </Li> <Li> Lois Smith as Mama Threadgoode </Li> <Li> Danny Nelson as Papa Threadgoode </Li> <Li> Jo Harvey Allen as Women's Awareness Teacher </Li> <Li> Macon McCalman as Prosecutor </Li> <Li> Richard Riehle as Reverend Scroggins </Li> <Li> Raynor Scheine as Curtis Smoot </Li> <Li> Grace Zabriskie as Eva Bates </Li> <Li> Reid Binion as Young Julian </Li> <Li> Nick Searcy as Frank Bennett </Li> <Li> Constance Shulman as Missy </Li> </Ul> <Li> Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch </Li>

Actress who played ruth in fried green tomatoes