Fried Green Tomatoes Author: Fannie Flagg, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Screenwriter: Fannie Flagg, Carol Sobieski Director: Jon Avnet Cast Kathy Bates Evelyn Couch Mary Stuart Masterson Idgie Threadgoode Mary-Louise Parker Ruth Jameson Jessica Tandy Ninny Threadgoode Gailard Sartain Ed Couch Stan Shaw Big George Cicely Tyson Sipsey Gary Basaraba Grady Kilgore Grace Zabriskie Eva Bates Richard Riehle Rev. Scroggins Grayson Fricke Buddy Threadgoode Jr. Lashondra Phillips Young Naughty Bird Enjolik Oree Older Naughty Bird Nick Searcy Frank Bennett Ginny Parker Ruth's mother Lois Smith Mama Threadgoode Danny Nelson Papa Threadgoode Afton Smith Leona Threadgoode Chris O'Donnell Buddy Threadgoode Tagline The secret of life? The secret's in the sauce. An Act III Communications, Avnet/Kerner Productions, Electric Shadow Productions and Universal Pictures production Released by Universal Pictures