Soupy Sales, the TV comedian who built a career from throwing pies around, has died at the age of 83 after long battling illness.

Sales began his career in Cincinnati and Cleveland before moving to Detroit. That was a stepping stone to larger fame in Los Angeles in 1961. He became famous by being on TV a great deal, usually chucking pies in people’s faces.

After being on television over the course of 50 years, Soupy Sales died in the Bronx, New York. He’ll be most fondly remembered for his iconic kids’ television program, The Soupy Sales Show.

His style of humor and slapstick comedy has remained in the shape of shows such as SpongeBob Squarepants, so even kids of today owe a debt of gratitude to Soupy Sales.