He’s the Voice Behind ‘Sabrina’s’ Salem the Cat

If you’ve watched Netflix’s revival of “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” you may have noticed a cat-sized absence. Salem-everyone’s favorite talking cat in the original “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”-notably doesn’t speak in the latest series. We set out to find the man behind the anthropomorphized feline, a certain Nick Bakay. But Bakay’s snarky vocal stylings that brought Salem to life aren’t his only credit. The multitalented human has written, produced and acted in hits like “Paul Blart Mall Cop,” “The King of Queens” and “Seinfeld.”
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#Salem #Sabrina #VoiceActor
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[@luckyDancer100]

Best part of Sabrina was Salem... I love the new series, but I really miss Nick's humor.

[@georgewesland9243]

That voice!? Its unique in its own way.

[@foxboss1925]

Could you imagine what it would be like if Classic Salem somehow ended up in the new version of Sabrina, like through a messed up spell or something?

[@thesweboy2873]

What-what-what??? They DID make a new one? Only heard rumors a long time ago.. This I need to research, thanks! But yeah, Salem was the King!

[@twentyfourtythree1190]

I NEEEEED his voice

[@ArcadiasPlanet]

Never watched

[@jessicajayes8326]

It's because of Salem I fell in love with black cats! I've adopted 2 in my life.

[@Uhlersoth77]

Thanks for adopting black cats. I have a soft spot for them, too. Two years ago, a little black stray adopted *me*, and she's the sweetest thing.

[@tomthemantv6482]

We adopted a black cat who was all black cat except for white hairs that hung from his chin & we named him Spooky!

[@elizaash358]

🤗😎

[@michaeladewolf8457]

Named my Kitty's Salem, Because of Sabrina

[@bigbrotherfan4life]

It’s because of Sabrina the teenage witch that I got a black cat and named him salam

[@NevahLose]

While most people love his snarkiness/sassieness, my fav part is when he does his pathetic whimpering... Gets me every time ^_^

[@hospitalcakewalk]

I do that now as an adult because of him, the majority of people think its funny and some get the reference XD

[@bursegsardaukar]

@@hospitalcakewalk So if I ever hear someone does the familiar Salem whimpering I think I should respond with: I understood the reference but it doesn’t mean I care. 0:56

[@hospitalcakewalk]

@@bursegsardaukar I WIIIIIISH someone would say thaaaat!!!

[@gabster92]

My son does the whimpering because we showed him the show and videos of Salem.

[@Meta_Meech]

@@hospitalcakewalk please do a video of you doing that 😂😂😂

[@terrariley4289]

He also did the voice of Salem on the animated Sabrina series

[@DoraeArtDreams-Aspy]

and met some of the MLP:FIM voice cast ^^

[@PamelaTaylor]

really

[@Ulvis_B]

👍

[@AnInkStick]

The funny thing is the original actress who played Sabrina in the sitcom, also played Zelda in Hilda in that version

[@jimmyk266]

I had an uncle that had all the episodes on VHS. My dad got hurt so I had to go live with him in Tangier for a bit. He made me watch every episode and write down the time stamp that Salem appeared on screen and mark whether it was a real cat or that crappy puppet.

[@ajwelsh3191]

Jim Goes Racing Wow your uncle sounds like a maniac. He couldn’t do something productive like hunt Bigfoot?

[@hroj]

@@ajwelsh3191 wow your comment is pretty useless. Couldn't you write something productive like an essay on Bigfoot?

[@ajwelsh3191]

Huascar Rojas No my imaginary doctorate that makes me an expert on cryptozoology really only goes as far as loch ness. I’m afraid I’m not that experienced when it comes to Bigfoot.

[@illlli7469]

Lmao your dad and uncle sound like my kinda people

[@nekokna]

since the research is already done, please upload it for the world!

[@thesweboy2873]

00:27 I LOVE it when Salem cries!!! I always laugh about his silly crying! It's genius!

[@christopheredwards788]

A true golden voice. Glad to see him.

[@blakgumshoo]

Omg. I can't believe I didn't realized Salem and Norbert sounded alike until now! Aaaand now I got "Beaver Fever" stuck in my head lol

[@andrewmwells9606]

His voice is so distinctive, it's so recognisable!!

[@marcellacassab4331]

Especially when he whines and cries.

[@MissDavids]

That's what I said.

[@spidrawebster]

I wish this piece were longer. Nick is a fantastically talented voice actor and I'd love to know more of his thoughts about his career, including his writing.

[@jennifer9084]

Always loved Salems voice

[@PamelaTaylor]

so did i

[@MaximumHeresey]

So basically this guy was our childhood and early teens. Bless him.

[@Liuhuayue]

He's practically his own trope.

[@MrLuisAlfred]

He WROTE Paul Blart: Mall Cop? What a legend!

[@lexluthor3890]

Wow, I have never realized he is the same voice as Norbert.. And he helped write Mall Cop with Kevin James? How have I not known about you, Nick Bakay? You are awesome!! Thank you so much for all these things over the years.

[@kacklina]

Nick is a very talenged voice actor and a very nice person, some years ago when I send my angry beavers fanart to some people of the show he was the only one that answered.

[@susanmulloy4059]

Nick did a superlative job as Salem's voice and muse.

[@leshaariel4921]

I always thought the cat was a robot, not a puppet

[@frosty925]

A puppet is a hand operated robot

[@Certifiable]

@@frosty925 An ANIMATRONIC is a robot puppet. A sock puppet isn't a robot, nor are most Muppets.

[@xanderg6987]

I thought he was real 😒

[@koalafromtomorrow5656]

Cestrim scenes were real cats and certain one were puppet

[@christophermccutcheon2143]

Salem giving his owner sass seems in-character for Salem

[@nitex4193]

I’d give everything for the original Salem puppet Soooooooo cuuuuuute

[@josievidal8464]

Whaaaaaat even Angry Beavers?! That show was my SHIT 🖤 my little sisters and I would always watch both Sabrina and Angry Beavers together they were some of the few shows we could agree on!!

[@_Majoras]

i never even heard of angry beavers 🤣

[@Littlepea2890]

I feel like Ambrose is to the new show what Salem was to the old.

[@Peppermon22]

Acacia he is and it’s ok

[@JunKurosu]

Actually salem took ambrose's role in the 90s

[@dulcemania6835]

Yeah because the actress is alergic to cats 😠 what a shame. They shouldve gotten another actress in my opinion

[@TheDrexxus]

The new show isn't about plot or character development or story, it's just political agendas upon political agendas. They have to go HARD into gay, trans, multi-ethic families, feminism, etc. I wanted to like it and I tried to like it, but the show has no substance at all, it's just preachy and obnoxious the way it deals with everything in a hamfisted way.

[@toakasi6425]

I loved Salems voice 😭 he's such a gem 💎 lots of love Sir Salem 🕯what a great actor & voice for his character

[@devingiles6597]

Nick Bakay also voiced Salem in Sabrina: The Animated Series.

[@zachbudnick1641]

My favorite show growing up and now I get Salem more than ever

[@braselton94]

Under the tongue, under the tongue!

[@BobMcCoy]

*_Dog Lovers have left the chat_*

[@zachrubenstein5355]

_Bob McCoy dude we are subscribed to the same people! Buzzfeed, this channel, inside edition I see u everywhere

[@dtheengineer2746]

Zach Rubenstein I don't get it either. This dude is always commenting too

[@may.k_me]

Good riddance!

[@zachrubenstein5355]

Maymuna Kabir who says good riddance

[@Neri4x4]

@@zachrubenstein5355 Maymuna says it.

[@thepantweaver]

Wow. He looked a lot like Martin Mull when he was younger. Cool to know he was a writer on the show too, though I don’t think I’d be bragging about writing the Mall Blart movie.

[@Curttehmurt]

Surprised he worked on Paul Blart and is so open about it

[@slayerjohn447]

The first one was an underrated gem, the second one we can pretend doesn't exist.

[@koraldavis3474]

My uncle and I are huge fans of him and Richard Horvitz the voice of "Zim" and "Dagget."

[@RealCalebClay]

And Alpha 5!!

[@joejackson4202]

Legendary show and legendary role. Love Salem the Cat.

[@VTKC]

Salem is why I watched the show. He is so funny.

[@nurlagrande]

ANGRY BEAVVERRRSSS!!!!!NOOOOOO I WANNA BE A KID AGAINNNN😭😭

[@Gummy_Pop.]

back in the day that i didn't know norbert was salem XD

[@Kittensandpuppies123]

Now I want a video about Salem's puppeteers and just different puppets that were in the show (e.g. fat Salem), should be interesting.

[@Bethanysnow]

Oh I loved him as a kid! I love him, I never knew who he really was all these years.

[@BigPat6521]

Angry beavers. I really needed this. That cat voice, i knew sound like someone else.

[@martalis7452]

There's never going to be a better Salem

[@narutofreak974]

I Was just finding videos on Salem the Cat on my algorithm and I end up with this blessed video.

[@missylang998]

Salem was my 2nd fave character on Sabrina! 😍😍

[@tevman09]

Salem was always a favourite just with some of the stuff he says 🤣🤣🤣

[@Brillemeister]

Thanks for the 8-track vs. VHS episode of Angry Beavers, Nick!

[@dude_someshiet]

I kinda enjoyed this show when I was kid.

[@unleashingpotential-psycho9433]

I miss this show!

[@AwesomeAlex808]

Catch it on Hulu.

[@johnschnakenberg6738]

Or Netflix

[@JustYourAverageGirl2002]

@@johnschnakenberg6738 Netflix only has the crappy "remake"

[@JustYourAverageGirl2002]

@@AwesomeAlex808 Is that where you can find it now???

[@PamelaTaylor]

yes

[@MikeDragon]

I have just finished watching all seven seasons of the show. I'll never be able to see or hear this guy without thinking of Salem Saberhagen. Salem's definitely one of the best characters in that show. At least in my opinion.

[@sherryhannah498]

@MikeDragon I got the show for my birthday...I hope y'all will reply to this

[@lisaweyenberg1640]

Salem was my favorite character! Loved him!

[@franko161]

Hahaha so nice to hear his sobbing I can't stop laughing. I always try to imitate that sobbing

[@demon.4500]

*HE WAS AN ICON*

[@56independent42]

I think that, since Salem takes so much of the show, the show should be called SALEMSALEMSALEMSALEM. Sabrina is just an extra.

[@tothien9862]

Salem is my favorite character on the show

[@chrystalthornton1502]

Missed the series when it came out, but currently am streaming the whole thing. Love, love, love Salem and have started calling my own black cat Salem on occasion.

[@rustecohle591]

Just started season 4... I really hope he makes a cameo or that there’s some hallucination sequence where the voice actor returns to voice Salem in the netflix series

[@TheArcSet]

The NOSTALGIA!

[@PIKMIN_PROPHET712]

*SO WONDERFUL WE LOVE YOU SALEM !!!*

[@waffle._.bubbles]

I love Salem’s homor and sarcasm. I wish it was included in the “reboot”, but whatever.

[@treidtreid9283]

I love Salem! And I love your voice!!!!

[@Ethentent]

What a roller coaster of emotions watching this. First I'm delighted to see that he was the voice of the hilarious character Salem and is a talented voice actor, but then I see that he was the main writer for the Paul Blart movies...

[@jadedheartsz]

Paul Blart films are funny as hell

[@mechajay3358]

NORBERT!

[@cindyespindola4946]

Now I really want to rewatch Sabrina, I watched it as a kid but don't remember most of it 😅 I do remember Salem to be the best character tho 😂

[@donrightgaming1455]

I love Salem i still die laughing when i watch the show over

[@majamarple8936]

I have a black cat named Salem ❤❤❤ because I loooove this Salem.

[@lidette711]

I love the old Sabrina sitcom and animated series. Everything was just so funny. :)

[@fionatsang9353]

Omigosh, Salem and Norb were the same guy!!! D: The Halloween specials for Angry Beavers were the best - to this day, my sister and I still just have to quote 'the caaaahndy' to make each other crack up XD

[@whateveer]

Me to netflix: all we want is a talking cat. Netflix: we can't do that but we can put hot guys making out together. Me: okay that works but I still wanting the talking cat

[@bluebear.artbykatlucas9741]

whatever they could have made him so awesome! They don’t even use him as a Goblin much either. It’s just a side thing, so disappointed

[@jaimemunoz5920]

@@bluebear.artbykatlucas9741 His absence is understandable. Kiernan Shipka found out late in season 1 part 1 filming she was allergic to cats. So kinda hard to change things around once it is that far into production and such.

[@koalafromtomorrow5656]

Why you be on the show if you alrgic to the cat they could used a puupet

[@JohnJacksonJohnson]

Oh, and he's also done the voice of Salem on the animated series (obviously not the 1960s one: the DiC one) and he's also done a double role as a radio sportcaster and Salem complimenting on his voice.

[@celtic745]

great voice

[@91clarie]

He was basically everyone's fave character

[@naointeressa2251]

One of the best actors of all time

[@fennecfoxfanatic]

Yes now this is content!!!

[@FreeBird_6791]

I loved his bits on the King of Queens.

[@rustecohle591]

Loved this actor so much

[@NeilBriann]

This video is pure joy

[@Anaprince]

I love Angry Beavers! And I loved Norbit he was my favorite! I loved that he was the sensible one

[@thomaseriksson2728]

Sabrina the teenage witch was an Amazing series i grew up with, and now Days i dust my old dvds and Watch them still Nick Bakay are a wonderful vocie actor too salem the cat, my favorite scene is when he is guard over the beanstalk Sabrina in a accident maked and sits in the cloads screaming: This is your guard! Harvey is coming, and i need a sanwitch! XD

[@LinaSJ1012]

I can't believe...I love Salem 💚💙

[@samimotag]

I used to love this show!

[@coimindeburka7716]

One of my favorite character! Can we please get a Salam re-boot!

[@PhantosaurusRex]

So he voiced my childhood? 😂😂😂 I used to watch Sabrina ( named my first cat Salem) and Angry Beavers

[@lindaeasley5606]

I wish Salem had gotten his own show . Sabrina The Teenage Witch was nothing without him

[@tamari9966]

my top tier voice actor hes one of my favorites

[@bursegsardaukar]

It will be funny if Nick Bakay’s chest opens up and revealed Salem piloting it like a robot.

[@Stig007]

lol I remember watching him do a lil bit of stand up when I was little it was so weird but funny to hear that voice say a cuss word.

[@Quast]

Did watch the show again two years ago. Felt a little more stale this time but Salem was still the STAR! XD

[@bentcn8511]

"still wanna take over the world?"

[@snowvine]

Yes. Wait. No, I meant NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ~cries~

[@NeilBriann]

@@snowvine LOOOOL!! That whimpering was hilarious

[@shaharm3798]

Hilarious. Nick Bakay did the best voice of Salem. Afther 20 years i watched Sabrina The Teenage Witch and it was like the fisrt time and super Hilarious.

[@tony_2024]

I remember Nick Bakay from Sabrina and The Angry Beavers as the voice of Norbert Beaver. I miss that stuff

[@kennythelegend9933]

Mentioned as the voice of Norbert Me: I knew it!

[@BassSwirls]

Illusions destroyed Salem had a voice- over.....but he's a magical magnificent kick ass cat....

[@thegamingdoggo9519]

This was the one of me my first sit coms

[@acs3452]

Love Salem😻😻😻😻

[@ManataxImplosion]

I finally finished all 7 seasons and I can say the only two characters that lasted were Sabrina and Salem

[@devinreis5811]

That's the coolest job ever.

[@ItsJade17]

That 70's show!!!

[@stevenasidilla4140]

Saleeeeemmmm!!!😀😀🐱🐱

[@unfixingbowl5454]

Sabrina would’ve been just another show without Salem

[@Lozano.Official]

I loved Salem from the tv show, my kitties name is also Salem haha

[@taffysundae9176]

I LOVE THE MALL COP MOVIES!

[@Toastcat890]

OMG that AOL ad LOL.

[@mr.j9108]

I'm I the only one who noticed the Mom post at the background? Another show I love the most.

[@rosegirl3220]

They need him as Salem in Netflix's sabrina the teenage witch!

[@griffin431]

Norbert!