Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman Actor, Dead at 70
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Actor Paul Reubens, who is most well-known for his character Pee-wee Herman in Pee-wee's Playhouse and a number of films, passed away. He was 70.
The official Pee-wee Herman Instagram account shared the sad news on July 31, announcing that Reubens died on Sunday, July 30 after battling cancer for years.
"Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness," the note read.
"Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit," the announcement continued. "A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit."
Along with the announcement of his passing, the account shared a message directly from Reubens, who apologized for keeping his illness to himself.
He said, "Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you."
For anyone wanting to show their support for Reubens in light of his passing, the actor requested that "expressions of sympathy" be made in honor of his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, to either the charity Stand Up to Cancer or any organization focused on care and research for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Reubens' career started taking off in the 1970s when he joined the Los Angeles improvisational sketch comedy troupe called The Groundlings. As he sharpened his comedic skills, Reuben premiered the character of Pee-wee Herman in sold-out stage shows starting in 1982, aptly called The Pee-wee Herman Show, and HBO even released a special on it.
The character was extremely successful, and Reubens became fully immersed in Herman for years. In 1985, he starred in Herman's big-screen debut, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, directed by Tim Burton, with a 1988 sequel called Big Top Pee-wee. A television series called Pee-wee's Playhouse ran on CBS from 1986 to 1990 as well, which won 15 Emmys throughout its run.
Reuben took a break from Herman's world after that, facing a few scandals that hindered his career before making a comeback and expanding his acting into other genres.
In 2010, he made a long-awaited return to playing Herman, starring in The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway before co-writing and starring in the movie Pee-wee's Big Holiday released on Netflix in 2011. Most recently, he appeared in television shows like The Blacklist, Gotham, Mosaic, and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
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