Billie Hayes, the character actress best known for her comedically villainous turn as Witchiepoo onH.R.
Pufnstuf, has died.
Hayes died Thursday of natural causes.Her family announced the news.
Pufnstufco-creator Marty Krofft said in a statement to EW.
“And as far as I’m concerned, there was no one better than Billie Hayes.
She was a home run for us andH.R Pufnstuf.”
The vaudeville-inspired Witchiepoo stole the show onH.R.
Pufnstuf,which ran for only 17 episodes on NBC in 1969.
It was also adapted to a feature film, 1970’sPufnstuf,and Hayes reprised the role there.
She also brought Witchiepoo back onH.R.
She began her career on the stage, rising to prominence on Broadway.
In the 1980s, Hayes had a recurring role onGeneral Hospitalas international spy Agent Brighton O’Reilly.
Other TV credits includeThe Monkees,Bewitched,Donny & Marie, andMurder, She Wrote.
