Skip Hinnant, the veteran voice actor whose career spanned the adult-oriented Fritz the Cat to beloved children's fare like My Little Pony, has died.
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The 86-year-old passed away on Nov. 8 in Denver, his family announced in an online obituary. Though no cause of death was given, Hinnant's obituary notes that he died peacefully, surrounded by family.
The actor, born Joseph Howard Hinnant (his older sister gave him the moniker "Skip") and raised in Virginia, got his break into showbiz by appearing in The Patty Duke Show from 1963 to 1965. He played the boyfriend of one of Duke's identical-cousin characters, Cathy.
Hinnant went on to originate the role of Schroeder in the Off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in 1967. He starred alongside heavy hitters like Bob Balaban in the play. It also starred Hinnant's late brother, Bill Hinnant, as Snoopy.
Hinnant first broke into voice acting with a part in a 1969 episode of Sesame Street, according to Deadline. He also voiced the Easter Bunny in the stop-motion Easter special, The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town, in 1977.
His deep bench of voice credits in children's TV shows includes the 1970s cartoon series Spidey Super Stories, My Little Pony from 1986-1987, and 1990's HBO Storybook Musicals.
Skip Hinnant Lands His Most Iconic Voice Acting Role With 'Fritz The Cat'
However, one of Hinnant's most iconic voice-acting parts was decidedly not for children.
Hinnant lent his voice to underground comics artist Robert Crumb's Fritz the Cat in two films by Ralph Bakshi. The adult-oriented animated films featuring the feisty feline were 1972's Fritz the Cat (which was infamously X-rated) and 1974's more subdued, R-rated The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat.
Meanwhile, Hinnant left a hefty legacy on the small screen in live-action TV.
He was an original cast member on the popular PBS show The Electric Company. Hinnant's tenure on the show lasted from 1971 to 1977 and spanned 780 episodes. He appeared alongside future superstars like Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Bill Cosby on the beloved kids' show.
Hinnant also appeared on shows like As the World Turns and Kate & Allie in the late 1980s.
Hinnant leaves behind his longtime partner, Ruth Nerken. He is also survived by 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and his ex-wife, Miriam Hinnant.
