Billie Armstrong Brosch (August 5, 1924 – April 29, 2021), known professionally as Billie Hayes, was an American television, film, and stage actress, best known for her comic portrayals of Witchiepoo and Li'l Abner's Mammy Yokum.

Early years Hayes was born in Du Quoin, Illinois, on August 5, 1924, to Charles and Marie (Armstrong) Brosch.Billie Hayes, Witchiepoo on 'H.R. Pufnstuf,' Dies at 96 Her father was from Germany, and was a coal miner who headed the local miners' union. Her mother was from Illinois, and worked in administration relief. She had an older brother, Louis Brosch."United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWCB-3PW : 8 January 2021), Billie Brosch in household of Charles Brosch, Du Quoin Election Precinct, Perry, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 73-6, sheet 2A, line 16, family 27, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 866. She started working professionally in entertainment at the age of nine, tap dancing in local theatres. By the time she was in high school, she played in bandleader Vince Genovese's orchestra, then toured with her own singing and dancing act throughout the Midwest. Hayes then moved on to New York City, where she auditioned for theatre owner/operator and producer J.J. Shubert, and was hired for principal roles in three roadshow operettas: The Student Prince, The Merry Widow, and Blossom Time.

Career Hayes was known for her comic portrayal of Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo on NBC's Sid and Marty Krofft television series H.R. Pufnstuf, as well as in the 1970 film Pufnstuf based on the series. Her characteristic cackle and animated physicality were notable during the show's 17-episode run in 1969–70. She reprised the role in another Sid and Marty Krofft program Lidsville (while also having a regular role as Weenie the Genie), and in The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976). Hayes portrayed a similar character in another television role as the gingerbread-house witch in Season 8, Episode 10 (1971) of Bewitched ("Hansel and Gretel in Samantha-Land").

Hayes played Mammy Pansy Yokum in the Li'l Abner 1956 Broadway musical, the 1959 film adaptation, and a 1971 television special. In 1966, she toured with the national company of Hello, Dolly! starring Betty Grable. Hayes made television appearances on Murder, She Wrote, on the soap opera General Hospital as Robert Scorpio's mentor O'Reilly in 1981 and 1985, and in the role of Maw Weskitt in Episode 39 of the second season of The Monkees ("Hillbilly Honeymoon").

Her first voice work role was as Orgoch in the 1985 film The Black Cauldron. Other voice work roles included Mother Mae-Eye in the animated series Teen Titans, One-Eyed Sally in The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald, Granny Applecheeks in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and roles in The Further Adventures of SuperTed, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Johnny Bravo, W.I.T.C.H., The Batman, TaleSpin, The Brothers Flub, Bubble Guppies, Rugrats, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Duckman, Shrek Forever After, Bonkers, Problem Child, Siegfried and Roy: Masters of the Impossible, and Darkwing Duck.

Hayes retired from acting in 2016.

Personal life and death Hayes was the president of the animal rescue organization Pet Hope.

Hayes died of natural causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, on April 29, 2021, at the age of 96.Billie Hayes Dies: Wicked Witchiepoo Of 'H.R. Pufnstuf' Was 96

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1959 Li'l Abner Mammy Yokum 1970PufnstufWitchiepoo1985The Black CauldronOrgoch (voice) A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1987 Snowballing Emma Ferguson 1999The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: The Legend of Grimace IslandOne-Eyed Sally (voice)Direct-to-video2010Shrek Forever AfterCackling Witch (voice)

Television Year Title Role Notes1967 The Monkees Maw Episode: "Hillbilly Honeymoon"1967The MonroesMrs. PeabodyEpisode: "Manhunt"1969–1970H.R. PufnstufWilhelmina WitchiepooMain role1971BewitchedWitchEpisode: "Hansel and Gretel in Samanthaland"1971–1972LidsvilleWeenie the GenieMain role1976WonderbugAgnesEpisode: "I Kidd You Not"1977TabithaSister RosalindEpisode: "Mr. Nice Guy"1978The Bay City Rollers ShowWitchiepoo, Weenie the Geenie8 episodes1981, 1985General HospitalBrighton O'Reilly2 episodes1982Trapper John, M.D.Mrs. LandersEpisode: "Cause for Concern"1984Murder, She WrotePeter PanEpisode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes"1985Paw PawsAdditional voices1987MathnetMrs. MacGregorEpisode: "The Problem of the Missing Baseball"1987Square One Television2 episodes1989The Further Adventures of SuperTedBlotch, Slot Machine Owner (voice)2 episodes1991Darkwing DuckOld Lady, Grammy Whammy (voice)2 episodes1991TaleSpinCrazy Edie, Mrs. Nelson (voice)2 episodes1993BonkersOld Lady (voice)Episode: "Frame That Toon"1995Aaahh!!! Real MonstersSelma (voice)Episode: "A Room with No Viewfinder"1996DuckmanNurse (voice)Episode: "A Room with a Bellevue"1997Johnny BravoOld Woman (voice)Episode: "Johnny Bravo Meets Adam West"1997–2000RugratsFabulous Lady, Woman (voice)2 episodes2001What a Cartoon!Nadine's Grandma (voice)Episode: "My Freaky Family: Welcome to My World"2004The Powerpuff GirlsOld Lad (voice)Episode: "Curses"2005Teen TitansMother Mae-Eye (voice)Episode: "Mother Mae-Eye"2005The Grim Adventures of Billy & MandyGranny Applecheeks (voice)Episode: "Puddle Jumping"2005The BatmanVirginia, Georgia (voice)Episode: "Grundy's Night"2006W.I.T.C.H.Emily (voice)Episode: "M is For Mercy"2012–2016Transformers: Rescue BotsMrs. Neederlander (voice)8 episodes2013–2014Teen Titans Go!Mother Mae-Eye (voice)2 episodes 2013 Bubble GuppiesThe Snuggler (voice)Episode: "The Elephant Trunk-a-Dunk!"

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