The Voice of Baby Huey and Katnip Passes On

Veteran character actor Sid Raymond died on December 1 from complications from a stroke at the age of 97. Most people probably would not recognise Raymond's name, but I am willing to bet a vast majority would recognise his name and face. Still working up until his death, Raymond appeared in many bit parts over the years. He was perhaps most famous as the voice of Famous Studios cartoon characters Baby Huey and Katnip, and as the bartender in Schlitz commercials in the Sixties.

Raymond was born Raymond Silverstein on January 21, 1909. He dropped out of New York University and became a recreation director at a Catskills resort instead. He then led the travelling show for the radio show Major Bowes's Original Amateur Hour. During World War II he was a part of a troupe that played the front lines.

Raymond broke into film through animated cartoons, as the voice of Katnip in the short "Naughty But Mice." He would go onto voice Katnip and various characters in the Popeye cartoons for many years. He first voiced Baby Huey in 1951, a year after he took over the role of the bartender Finnigan on the radio show Duffy's Tavern. He was also among the many actors who provided the voices for magpies Heckle and Jeckle on The Heckle and Jeckle Show in 1956.

Over the years Raymond also guest starred on many, many TV series. He first appeared on television in an episode of The Man Behind the Badge in 1953. He would go on to make guest appearances on The Honeymooners, Goodyear Television Playhouse, The U.S. Steel Hour, and The O.C. (his final appearance.

Raymond also appeared in many films over the years, starting with I Am a Camera in 1955. He would also appear in The Hustler, The Prize, Making Mr. Right, and Big Trouble. Raymond also had a career on stage, appearing in summer stock in The Pajama Game in the Sixties and on Broadway in Golden Rainbow. In all, Raymond's career spanned over 70 years.