Billie Hayes, Memorable Witch on âH.R. Pufnstuf,â Dies at 96 Ms. Hayes had quite a cackle, and it served her well in a number of witchy roles, beginning in 1969 on a short-lived but much remembered TV series. The actress Billie Hayes in her best-known role, as Witchiepoo on the 1969 children’s television series “H.R. Pufnstuf.”Credit...Everett Collection May 13, 2021 Billie Hayes, who rode a memorable cackle to kiddie-TV fame, playing a witch named Witchiepoo in the short-lived but much remembered 1969 series âH.R. Pufnstuf,â died on April 29 in Los Angeles. She was 96. News of her death was posted on her website.