Pee-Wee Herman Comedian Paul Reubens Dead At 70

Comedian Paul Reubens, known for his long-standing role as the children's entertainment character Pee-wee Herman, has died at the age of 70. The performer died on July 30, 2023 after a six-year stint with cancer, as per a report from Variety.

Reubens' estate shared a message on the actor's social media platforms like Facebook in remembrance: "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."

Reubens' diagnosis was not public knowledge prior to news of his death. The post from his estate included a posthumous statement from him addressing fans. "Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last six years," the quote 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."

As further mentioned in Reubens' estate's post, the entertainer requested that "any expressions of sympathy be made in honor of his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, to Stand Up to Cancer or organizations involved in Dementia and Alzheimer's care, support and research."

The majority of Paul Reubens' entertainment career centered upon his iconic portrayal of Pee-wee Herman, a role that he would build upon through myriad appearances across theater, film, and TV for nearly 40 years. The comedian initially created the character in 1978 during his time with the Groundlings comedy troupe. "I could never remember punch lines to jokes, so my character was a bad comic you would never expect to make it," Reubens explained in an interview with Parade. Reubens brought the Pee-wee Herman persona to the stage, and eventually, a feature film in the form of 1980's "Cheech & Chong's Next Movie."

From that introduction, Reubens' off-kilter performance only continued to balloon in popularity. His stage show was turned into a 60-minute special from HBO titled "The Pee-wee Herman Show," and its success led to the actor touring across the United States with live performances of the show in 1983. Reubens also made live appearances in-character as Pee-wee Herman on reality talk shows like "Late Night with David Letterman." The character wasn't just becoming a fictional icon, but a real-life celebrity — a progression Reubens purposefully cultivated. "I spent a lot of time and energy making sure that people thought Pee-wee was a real person," the actor told Interview Magazine. "My billing was always 'Pee-wee Herman as Himself.'"

In 1985, Pee-wee headlined his very own movie with "Pee-wee's Big Adventure." Reubens' would subsequently star as the character on the children's programming series "Pee-wee's Playhouse" between 1986 and 1990, along with a cinematic sequel in 1988's "Big Top Pee-wee."

While Paul Reubens' turned Pee-wee Herman into a bona fide pop culture phenomenon in the 1980s, the actor and his beloved character wouldn't take part in any significant new projects for years. In 1990, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" was canceled, partially due to Reubens feeling fatigue with the Pee-wee persona. The entertainer was the subject of controversy just one year later, when he was arrested at an adult theater in Florida for indecent exposure. Reubens would subsequently receive support from fans and celebrity peers in the ensuing years, many of whom argued that the incident unfairly characterized the performer. Nonetheless, Reubens all but retired the Pee-wee character throughout the 1990s and 2000s, save for the occasional public appearance.

It wouldn't be until the 2010s that Pee-wee Herman (and Reubens) would return in full-force to the spotlight. After years' worth of whispers and rumors about a new project being the works, Reubens returned to lead a revival of "The Pee-wee Herman Show" stage performance in 2010. Several years later, Netflix commenced development on a new movie with Reubens' character. The film, titled "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," finally released in 2016 and would prove to be Reuben's last significant on-screen appearance as Pee-wee. 

While Pee-wee was an occasional presence in pop culture, the character consistently stayed with Reuben throughout his life. "Sometimes it can be confusing having an alter-ego," the actor once jokingly told Out Clique. "For example, when I'm at the supermarket, am I shopping for myself or Pee-wee Herman? If I'm at the mall, and I see a nice pair of slacks, is it me or Pee-wee that's admiring them? That speeding ticket I just received [...] that was definitely Pee-wee Herman. Since he doesn't really exist, no one would have to pay it."