© Netflix Pee-wee Herman comic Paul Reubens dies at 70
Comedian kept his cancer fight a secret
Paul Reubens, the American comedian behind Pee-wee Herman, has died at the age 70 following a secret fight with cancer.
A statement on the official Pee-wee Herman Facebook page said: ‘ 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.
‘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.’
In a statement posted on Instagram after his death, Reubens 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.'
Among those paying trubute today was Jimmy Kimmel who said: '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.'
Conan O'Brien added: '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.'
Here is Pee-wee on O'Brien's talk show:
Trained at Los Angeles improv troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s, Reubens invented Pee-wee Herman as a live character in 1982 with HBO making a special about the cult character.
In 1985, his feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, directed by Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success. It led to the Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse, which ran for four years, and the less successful movie sequel Big Top Pee-wee.
His career was derailed in July 1991 when Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie cinema in Sarasota, Florida, and was out of the public eye for the best part of a decade – and when he returned it was as Reubens, not Pee-wee.
He later projects included the 1999 movie Mystery Men and cameos in the likes of Reno 911, 30 Rock and The Blacklist.
In 2010, he returned to the character that made his name, starring on Broadway in The Pee-wee Herman Show, and in 2016, Reubens co-wrote and starred in the Netflix original film Pee-wee's Big Holiday.
His last role was voicing a character, Pat, in Bob’s Burgers earlier this year.
Published: 31 Jul 2023
