Skip Hinnant, the beloved actor who entertained generations of Americans on The Electric Company and became the unmistakable voice behind one of animation’s most controversial characters, has died at 86.
The veteran performer died peacefully on Sunday, November 8, in Denver, Colorado, surrounded by his family. His death was confirmed in an obituary published by his loved ones, who remembered a man whose remarkable career stretched across television, Broadway, and animated films.
A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
For millions of children growing up in the 1970s, Hinnant was a familiar face on PBS’s groundbreaking educational series The Electric Company. Joining the original cast in 1971, he spent six years bringing unforgettable characters to life alongside future Hollywood stars Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno.
Among his most recognizable roles was Fargo North, Decoder, a bumbling detective who helped children learn to read by solving scrambled words and messages. Hinnant also portrayed Frankenstein and several other quirky characters throughout the show’s run.
But while he was helping children learn their ABCs, Hinnant was secretly familiar to a very different audience.
In 1972, he provided the voice of Fritz in Fritz the Cat, director Ralph Bakshi’s groundbreaking adult animated film. The controversial movie became the first animated feature to receive an X rating, a striking departure from Hinnant’s wholesome children’s television work.
He returned to voice the character in the 1974 sequel, The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat, cementing his place in animation history.
Born Joseph Howard Hinnant on September 12, 1940, and raised on Virginia’s Chincoteague Island, the actor began making his mark in Hollywood during the early 1960s.
He appeared on The Patty Duke Show from 1963 to 1965, portraying the boyfriend of Cathy Lane, one of the identical cousins played by Patty Duke.
His talents soon took him to the New York stage, where he originated the role of Schroeder in the 1967 Off-Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The production became a major success and featured his older brother, Bill Hinnant, as Snoopy.
Hinnant later returned to family-friendly entertainment, voicing the Easter Bunny in the 1977 holiday special The Easter Bunny Is Comin’ to Town. His extensive voice acting career also included work on My Little Pony, Spidey Super Stories and I Go Pogo.
Beyond his television and film success, Hinnant spent decades fighting for the rights of fellow performers. He served on the Screen Actors Guild’s national board from 1980 to 2003, helping protect voice actors’ contracts and advocating for working entertainers.
Despite his many accomplishments, his family remembered him for something far more personal.
Known for his quick wit and love of making people laugh, Hinnant reportedly treasured his role as a grandfather above all others. Affectionately called “Pop-pop,” he was a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren.
He is survived by his longtime partner, Ruth Nerken; his four children, Chris, Jamie, Julie and Sara; nine grandchildren; and his former wife, Miriam Hinnant.
A private celebration of his life is being planned in Chincoteague, Virginia, the coastal community where his remarkable journey first began.
For generations of Americans who grew up watching The Electric Company, Hinnant leaves behind more than decades of memorable performances. He helped make learning to read entertaining, creating characters that remain part of childhood memories nearly half a century later.