Paul Reubens Dies: Pee-wee Herman Actor Was 70
Paul Reubens, best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, has died. The comedic actor died on Sunday, July 30, at the age of 70 after a six-year, private battle with cancer.
Reubens’ death was announced on the Pee-wee Herman Instagram account on Monday, July 31. The announcement included a statement from Reubens to fans.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” his posthumous message reads. “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.”
“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,” reads the Instagram announcement. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. 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.”
The third slide in the post shared Reubens’ wishes following his death. “Paul asked that any expressions of sympathy be made in honor of his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, to Stand Up to Cancer organizations involved in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.”
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Born Paul Rubenfeld in in New York in 1952, Reubens’ earned his first screen credit in 1968. He created the character of Pee-wee Herman while part of the Los Angeles improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, known for its famous alums such as Reubens, Phil Hartman (who was a member at the same time as Reuben), Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Lisa Kudrow, and more. Pee-wee, a spoof on TV hosts of children’s shows in the 1950s, first appeared in 1980 (Reubens joined The Groundlings in the ’70s) in the stage production “The Pee-wee Herman Show.”
The show and character became so popular, Reubens landed an HBO special. The special, also titled The Pee-wee Herman Show, debuted on HBO in 1981 (it’s currently streaming on Max). After some TV appearances as Pee-wee, the character made its feature film debut in 1985’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, directed by Tim Burton, which was a box office success. The follow-up, Big Top Pee-wee, was directed by Randal Kleiser and hit theaters in 1988. The Pee-wee Herman series, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, ran from 1986 to 1990. Natasha Lyonne credits it as the job that started her career (see her tribute to Reubens below, among others).
While Pee-wee was inarguably Reubens’ biggest success (the last Pee-wee film, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, came out in 2016 on Netflix), he didn’t only play the quirky character during his decades on the screen. Other TV credits include What We Do In the Shadows, Mosaic, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Gotham (as Penguin’s father), The Blacklist, 30 Rock, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, and more. His role in Gotham was a reprisal of his role in 1992’s Batman Returns.
His last on-screen appearance was in an episode of The Conners in 2019. His last credits were two voiceover projects in 2021 — The Tom and Jerry Show and The Crown With a Shadow. Reubens would, however, often remain in character as Pee-wee during interviews and other public appearances. Reubens hosted Saturday Night Live as Pee-wee in 1985 (Hartman became an SNL cast member in 1986), and he appeared as Pee-wee when the character received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988.
In 1985, Paul Reubens, as Pee Wee Herman, became of the rare few to host SNL completely in character. pic.twitter.com/Gz0suQE8Di
— That Week In SNL (@ThatWeekInSNL) July 31, 2023
Reubens and Pee-wee’s Playhouse received one Emmy nomination — Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program — in 1989. He was Emmy-nominated for his guest appearance on Murphy Brown in 1995 (in which he didn’t play Pee-wee), and was nominated once more for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy special for The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway in 2011.
One of the most infamous moments of his public life was in 1991, when he was arrested for indecent exposure when caught masturbating in an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Florida. He pleaded no contest and was required to complete 75 hours of community service. In a 2010 interview with Playboy, Reubens credited ex-girlfriend Debi Mazar (whom he dated from 1993-1999) with helping his depression following the arrest. Reubens reportedly married Chandi Heffner in 1989 in an “impromptu mock wedding ceremony.” In later years, Reubens kept details of his personal life private.
Reubens faced legal troubles again in 2004 when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possessing obscene material in Los Angeles. He was given three years probation. The plea deal included the dropping of a second charge of possession of child pornography. The photos in question were part of Reubens’ collection of vintage erotica.
See tributes to Reubens from Lyonne, Jimmy Kimmel, and more below.
Love you so much, Paul. One in all time. Thank you for my career & your forever friendship all these years & for teaching us what a true original is. ♥️♥️💔 #PaulReubens #PeeWeeHerman ♥️ pic.twitter.com/GMcBaEgWix
— natasha lyonne (@nlyonne) July 31, 2023
Paul Reubens was like no one else – a brilliant and original comedian who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time. He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met. My family and I will miss him.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) July 31, 2023
One of the patron saints of all misfitted, weird, maladjusted, wonderful, miraculous oddities. https://t.co/4TJAObpO2M
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) July 31, 2023
No tweet can capture the magic, generosity, artistry, and devout silliness of Paul Reubens. Everyone I know received countless nonsensical memes from Paul on their birthday, and I mean EVERYONE. His surreal comedy and unrelenting kindness were a gift to us all. Damn, this hurts.
— Conan O’Brien (@ConanOBrien) July 31, 2023
“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.”- Paul Reubens
We loved you right back, Paul… & can’t thank you enough for the lifetime of laughter!#RIP pic.twitter.com/u7Ycx0SbTw— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) July 31, 2023
This is devastating. Truly heartbreaking. Paul was such a comedy genius. From his Letterman appearances to his TV shows and movies, he was so original and hilarious. And such a sweet man too. This is a huge loss for comedy. Thanks for all the laughs, Paul. https://t.co/l76VIXHl50
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 31, 2023
Paul and I first met in 1973 at Cal Arts. We remained friends for the next 50 years. Not day to day. Just the kind of friend that you can text out of nowhere or have a 3 hour lunch with. And don’t get me started on the birthday texts-he sent them ALL DAY. I feel sick. pic.twitter.com/GEX9oXuiG1
— Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) July 31, 2023
my patron saint ❤️ you invented everything ❤️ you created a world we all wish we could live in ❤️💕 PEE WEE FOR FUCKING EVER !!!! ❤️💕 pic.twitter.com/ZRMny49Vw1
— SARAH SQUIRM (@SarahSquirm) July 31, 2023
