Billie Hayes obit

Billie Hayes Dies: Wicked Witchiepoo Of ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’ Was 96

 

She was not on the list.

Billie Hayes, whose portrayal of the flamboyantly and comically wicked witch Witchiepoo on the 1969-70 Saturday morning live-action children’s classic H.R. Pufnstuf, died of natural causes April 29 at Cedar’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She was 96.

Her death was announced by her family.

A Broadway veteran by the time she reached national fame as the flute-stealing nemesis to a psychedelic dragon, Hayes had starred as Mammy Yokum in both the Broadway and film versions of the popular late-1950s musical Lil’ Abner. She’d made her Broadway debut in New Faces of 1956 along with an ensemble that included actress Maggie Smith.

Following a couple of guest appearances on episodic TV in 1967 – including a Mammy Yokum-type matriarch in the “Hillbilly Honeymoon” episode of The Monkees – Hayes endeared herself to a generation of glued-to-the-tube Saturday morning viewers in 1969 as the eccentrically costumed, ever-cackling and always bumbling Witchiepoo (full name: Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo).

With a performance panache that was over-the-top even by the wacky standards of the Sid and Marty Krofft universe of costumed creatures, Hayes was an immediate scene-stealer. Series-stealer, actually: Though Witchiepoo was the H.R. Pufnstuf villain, intent on stealing the magical, talking Freddy the Flute as if he were a pair of ruby slippers, Hayes’ wildly entertaining vaudeville, slapstick style had legions of young viewers rooting her on to a victory that never came. “Why me?,” she’d whine or sob after the inevitable backfiring of her latest evil scheme.

Born in Du Quoin, Illinois, Hayes began her show business career at age 9, dancing professionally in local nightclubs. While still in high school, she joined the fourteen-piece regional orchestra of Vince Genovese, and performed solo in her teens in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

 

After moving to New York, Hayes performed selections from her nightclub singing-and-dancing routine in an audition for famed theater impresario J.J. Shubert, who was so taken with her comic and musical talents he cast her in principal roles of three roadshow operettas: Student Prince, The Merry Widow and Blossom Time.

Soon enough she was co-starring with fellow newcomer Paul Lynde in the New York revue What’s New, which led to her Broadway debut in Leonard Sillman’s New Faces show. She then took over the role of Lil’ Abner‘s Mammy Yokum from the original cast’s Charlotte Rae, finding herself alongside another up-and-comer in the replacement cast named Valerie Harper.

Hayes, with old-age make-up, a white wig and a long-stemmed pipe, would reprise the role in Paramount’s 1959 film version and, in 1971, a TV-movie adaptation. She’d return to the stage in the late 1960s as the character Minnie Fay in the national touring company of Hello, Dolly! starring Betty Grable.

After her 1969 arrival in the destined-for-cult-classic Sid and Marty Krofft series, which also starred Jack Wild (Oliver!) as the on-the-run Dorothy Gale-stand-in Jimmy and, providing the voice of Pufnstuf the dragon, Lennie Weinrib (actor Roberto Gamonet was inside the puffy, full-body green-and-yellow costume), Hayes had found what would be her signature role. She returned as the character in the 1970 feature film adaptation Pufnstuf, along with Wild, Martha Raye and, in her sole feature role, “Mama” Cass Elliot (as Witch Hazel).

Hayes even reprised the role in 1976 on the ABC Halloween special of her old friend Paul Lynde, appearing with The Wizard of Oz‘s Margaret Hamilton in a comedy sketch that revealed the sisterly bond between the two famous witches.

The cancelation of H.R. Pufnstuf in 1970 led to yet another Krofft casting, this time in the dual role of Witchiepoo and the kindlier Weenie the Genie in Lidsville (1971-72), with Charles Nelson Reilly taking the show’s chief villain spot as magician Horatio J. Hoodoo.

Hayes had a long and busy subsequent TV career in voice roles – The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries, The Flintstones Comedy Show, Trollkins, The Real Ghostbusters, Rugrats, Transformers: Rescue Bots, among many others – and she appeared in a recurring role on General Hospital in the early 1980s as a street-wise international spy named Agent Brighton O’Reilly.

Offscreen, Hayes founded the Los Angeles-based animal rescue nonprofit organization Pet Hope, a cause she had championed since adopting a puppy abandoned in the basement of Broadway’s St. James Theatre during the run of Lil’ Abner.

Hayes is survived by niece Nancy Powers, nephews Tom Brosch, Louie Brosch and Guy Brosch; their spouses; and several great-nieces and -nephews. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to Pet Hope.

𝕊𝕚𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕪 𝕂𝕣𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕥

@SidMartyKrofft

Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of Oz) once told us that Billie Hayes was "one of the best witches ever” We couldn’t agree more. Rest in Peace dear friend. #RIP #Billiehayes

Actress (52 credits)

 2012-2016 Transformers: Rescue Bots (TV Series short)

Mrs. Neederlander / Zookeeper

- Once Upon a Time (2016) ... Mrs. Neederlander (voice)

- Vanishing Returns (2016) ... Mrs. Neederlander (voice)

- Bridge Building (2016) ... Mrs. Neederlander (voice)

- The Riders of Midwinter (2014) ... Mrs. Neederlander (voice)

- No Place Like Dome (2014) ... Mrs. Neederlander

 2013-2014 Teen Titans Go! (TV Series short)

Mother Mae-Eye

- Grandma Voice (2014) ... Mother Mae-Eye (voice)

- Legendary Sandwich (2013) ... Mother Mae-Eye (voice)

 2013 Bubble Guppies (TV Series)

- The Elephant Trunk-a-Dunk! (2013)

 2010 Shrek Forever After

Cackling Witch (voice)

 2008 Too Human (Video Game)

Urd / Woman (voice)

 2006 W.I.T.C.H. (TV Series)

Emily

- M Is for Mercy (2006) ... Emily (voice)

 2005 The Batman (TV Series)

Virgina / Georgia

- Grundy's Night (2005) ... Virgina / Georgia (voice)

 2005 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (TV Series)

Granny Applecheeks / Vulture

- Zip Your Fly/Puddle Jumping (2005) ... Granny Applecheeks / Vulture (voice)

 2005 Teen Titans (TV Series)

Mother Mae-Eye

- Mother Mae-Eye (2005) ... Mother Mae-Eye (voice)

 2004 The Powerpuff Girls (TV Series)

Old Lady #1 / Old Lady #2

- Curses/Bang for Your Buck (2004) ... Old Lady #1 / Old Lady #2 (voice)

 2001 My Freaky Family: Welcome to My World (TV Short)

Grandma (voice)

 1999 The Brothers Flub (TV Series)

Additional Voices

- Unlucky Charmers; Bunch of Trouble (1999) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- It's a Mystery; for the Birds (1999) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Teacher's Pest; Yippy-Ki-Yay! (1999) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Finders Keepers; Shrinky Dinky (1999) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Paradise Shmaridise; Sore Losers (1999) ... Additional Voices (voice)

Show all 16 episodes

 1999 The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: The Legend of Grimace Island (Video short)

One Eyed Sally (voice)

 1997 Johnny Bravo (TV Series)

Older Woman

- Johnny Bravo Meets Adam West/Under the Big Flop/Johnny Bravo Meets Donny Osmond (1997) ... Older Woman (voice)

 1997 Rugrats (TV Series)

Fabulous Lady

- Grandpa's Bad Bug/Lady Luck (1997) ... Fabulous Lady (voice)

 1996 The Legend of Sarmoti: Siegfried & Roy (TV Series short) (voice)

 1996 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (TV Series)

- A Room with a Bellevue (1996) ... (voice)

 1995 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (TV Series)

Sielma / Customer #2

- A Room with No Viewfinder/Krumm Rises to the Top (1995) ... Sielma / Customer #2 (voice)

 1994 Problem Child (TV Series short)

- Junior Vanilli (1994) ... (voice)

- Grease My Palm (1994) ... (voice)

- The Cyndi Kerrigan Story (1994) ... (voice)

- Teacher of the Year (1994) ... (voice)

- Junior and the Big House (1994) ... (voice)

Show all 13 episodes

 1993 Bonkers (TV Series)

Old Lady

- Comeback Kid (1993) ... (voice)

- Frame That Toon (1993) ... Old Lady (voice)

 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas

Witches / Additional Voices (voice, uncredited)

 1991 Darkwing Duck (TV Series)

Old Lady / Granny Whammy

- Let's Get Respectable (1991) ... Old Lady (voice)

- Double Darkwings (1991) ... Granny Whammy (voice)

 1991 TaleSpin (TV Series)

Crazy Edie / Mrs. Half Nelson

- The Sound and the Furry (1991) ... Crazy Edie (voice)

- Bringing Down Babyface (1991) ... Mrs. Half Nelson (voice)

 1989 The Karate Kid (TV Series short)

Additional Characters

- My Brother's Keeper (1989) ... Additional Characters (voice)

 1989 The Further Adventures of SuperTed (TV Series)

Slot Machine Owner / Blotch

- Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere (1989) ... Slot Machine Owner (voice)

- Knox Knox, Who's There? (1989) ... Blotch (voice)

 1987 Square One Television (TV Series)

Mrs. MacGregor

- Episode #1.7 (1987) ... Mrs. MacGregor

- Episode #1.6 (1987) ... Mrs. MacGregor

 1987 Mathnet (TV Series)

Mrs. MacGregor

- The Problem of the Missing Baseball (1987) ... Mrs. MacGregor

 1986 The Real Ghostbusters (TV Series)

Mrs. Rogers

- Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood (1986) ... Mrs. Rogers (voice)

 1985-1986 Paw Paws (TV Series)

Additional Voices

- The Zip Zap 4-D Trap (1986) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- S'no Business (1986) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Totem Time Trap (1986) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Lost Lake Monster (1986) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- The Great Paw Paw Turnaround (1986) ... Additional Voices (voice)

 1985 The Black Cauldron

Orgoch (voice)

 1981-1985 General Hospital (TV Series)

Agent Brighton O'Reilly

- Episode #1.5661 (1985) ... Agent Brighton O'Reilly

- Episode #1.4757 (1981) ... Agent Brighton O'Reilly

- Episode #1.4644 (1981) ... Agent Brighton O'Reilly (uncredited)

 1984 Snowballing

Emma Ferguson

 1984 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Peter Pan

- The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1984) ... Peter Pan

 1984 The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (TV Series)

Sheriff Parker / Additional Voices

- Mission Un-Doo-Able/The Bee Team (1984) ... Sheriff Parker

- Happy Birthday, Scooby-Doo (1984) ... Additional Voices (voice)

 1982 The Gary Coleman Show (TV Series)

Additional Voices

- You Oughtta' Be in Pictures/Derby Daze (1982) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Fouled Up Fossils/Going, Going, Gone (1982) ... Additional Voices (voice)

 1982 Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series)

Mrs. Landers

- Cause for Concern (1982) ... Mrs. Landers

 1981 New Friends (Short) (voice)

 1981 The Flintstone Comedy Show (TV Series)

Pinkbeard

- Captain Caveman: Pinkbeard (1981) ... Pinkbeard

 1981 Trollkins (TV Series)

Additional Voices

- Dr. Frankentroll, I Presume/Agent Double-O-Troll (1981) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Trolltown Trollympics/The Troll Cat in the Hat (1981) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- The Abominable Trollman/The Moth That Ate Trolltown (1981) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Supertroll/Flooky and the Troll Burglar (1981) ... Additional Voices (voice)

- Bermuda Trollangle/Fine Feathered Lumpkin (1981) ... Additional Voices (voice)

 1978 The Bay City Rollers Show (TV Series)

Witchiepoo / Weenie the Genie

- Episode #1.1 (1978) ... Witchiepoo / Weenie the Genie

 1978 The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (TV Movie)

Witchipoo

 1977 Tabitha (TV Series)

Sister Rosalind

- Mr. Nice Guy (1977) ... Sister Rosalind

 1976 Wonderbug (TV Series)

Agnes

- I Kidd You Not (1976) ... Agnes

 1976 Donny and Marie (TV Series)

- Episode #1.8 (1976)

 1971-1972 Lidsville (TV Series)

Weenie the Genie / Witchiepoo

- Mommy Hoodoo (1972) ... Weenie the Genie

- The Great Brain Robbery (1971) ... Weenie the Genie

- The Old Hat Home (1971) ... Weenie the Genie

- Hoodoo, Who? (1971) ... Weenie the Genie

- Oh, Brother (1971) ... Weenie the Genie

 1971 Bewitched (TV Series)

Witch

- Hansel and Gretel in Samanthaland (1971) ... Witch

 1971 Li'l Abner (TV Movie)

Mammy Yokum

 1970 Pufnstuf

Witchiepoo

 1969-1970 H.R. Pufnstuf (TV Series)

Witchiepoo

- Jimmy Who? (1970) ... Witchiepoo

- Whaddya Mean the Horse Gets the Girl? (1969) ... Witchiepoo

- The Almost Election of Mayor Witchiepoo (1969) ... Witchiepoo

- The Visiting Witch (1969) ... Witchiepoo

- A Tooth for a Tooth (1969) ... Witchiepoo

 1967 The Monkees (TV Series)

Maw

- Hillbilly Honeymoon (1967) ... Maw

 1967 The Monroes (TV Series)

Mrs. Peabody

- Manhunt (1967) ... Mrs. Peabody

 1959 Li'l Abner

Pansy ('Mammy') Yokum