Voice of Ernie the Keebler elf dead at 81

Voice actor Walker Edmiston died of complications from cancer on Thursday, February 15, in his Woodland Hills, California home. He was born Feb. 6, 1926, in St. Louis and moved to L.A. in 1947. Edmiston hosted a children's show on local television during the 1950s and 60s, and gained further success during the 1970s voicing numerous characters in Sid and Marty Krofft shows like H.R. Pufnstuf and Bugaloos. His vocal talents were also showcased in commercials, most famously as the voice of advertising icon Ernie the Keebler elf. Keebler, the second-largest cookie and cracker manufacturer in the country, was purchased by Kelloggs in March 2001. Edmiston also acted in television programs including episodes of Batman, Green Acres, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Dallas, and The Dukes of Hazzard, and was the voice of Balok on the original Star Trek series. Edmiston was 81.

Sources: Associated Press, kelloggs.com, IMDB.com