Billie Hayes, a character actress best known for playing Witchiepoo in the live-action Saturday morning classic H.R. Pufnstuf has passed away at the age of 96 of natural causes in Los Angeles.

Hayes was born in Du Quoin, Illinois in 1925, and began her life as a performer at age nine, dancing professionally in nightclubs. She later moved to New York and made her Broadway debut in New Faces. She then donned the white wig of Mammy Yokum in Lil’ Abner — a role which she reprised for the 1959 feature film and 1971 TV movie. After launching her signature role in Sid and Marty Krofft’s H.R. Pufnstuf, Hayes also reprised Witchiepoo for the 1970 feature, the Kroffts’ 1971 follow up Lidsville (in which she also played Weenie the Genie) and in TV specials.

She began doing voice work for Hanna-Barbera in the early 1980s, performing additional roles for Trollkins, The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries, The Gary Coleman Show and Paw Paws, as well as guest roles in The Real Ghostbusters, The Further Adventures of SuperTed, The Karate Kid animated series, and played Orgoch, one of three witches, in Disney’s The Black Cauldron.

In the 1990s, Hayes was mostly voice acting. She guested on hit series including Disney’s TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Bonkers; Nickelodeon’s Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Rugrats and Cartoon Network’s Johnny Bravo; was a regular addition to Problem Child and The Brothers Flub and (uncredited) returned to her witchy roots in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

She is survived by niece: Nancy Powers; nephews: Tom Brosch, Louie Brosch and Guy Brosch and their spouses; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.