In the 1980s, actor Paul Reubens gained fame as the children’s TV star “Pee-wee Herman.” After years since his cancer diagnosis, he passed away at the age of 70. On Monday, his team made the announcement.
Last night, we said goodbye to renowned American actor, comedian, writer, and producer Paul Reubens, whose famous character Pee-wee Herman made people of all ages smile with his positivity, antics,”Kindness,” read a comment made by them on Facebook.
Paul fought a courageous and private battle against cancer for years with determination and intelligence. A talented and versatile individual, he will always be remembered as a cherished friend, a memorable character, and a person of generosity in our hearts, living on through his comedy and kindness,” read one of the comments he made on Facebook.
The actor’s autobiography, which explains why he kept his health a secret, was published with the news of his death.
Please pardon me for keeping my troubles private for the past six years, the man said in his letter. He said, “I have always felt a lot of love and respect from my friends, followers, and supporters.” I have loved all of you deeply and enjoyed creating art for you.”
Rubeus gained fame for portraying the satirical yet kind-hearted character Pee-Wee Herman, a character with his iconic red bowtie and catchphrase – “I know you are, but what am I?” It gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” was a stage play created by Rubens, which gained so much popularity that HBO recorded and aired it in 1981.
Eventually, Rubens got a big break with the 1985 film “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” directed by the feature film director Tim Burton for the first time. The film follows Pee-Wee’s absurd and foolish journey to find his lost bicycle and became a cult favorite despite being a modest hit at the box office.
Due to the success of “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” Rubens got the Saturday morning CBS show, “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.”
The live-action show became a hit among both children and adults and ran from 1986 to 1991.
However, Reubens’ fame saw a decline in 1991 when he requested not to compete against explicit content in an adult film theater in Sarasota, Florida.
Then in 2004, after being convicted of lewd conduct, he faced a three-year probation period, which involved images of minors engaged in sexual behavior that were seized from him.
Although his clashes with the law affected Reubens’ career, he didn’t completely fade away from the scene.
In 1992, he made a notable return to the big screen with a memorable cameo as the Penguin’s father in the blockbuster sequel “Batman Returns.” That same year, he completely abandoned his persona of the blood-sucking vampire and embraced his peeing-on-film character after portraying a blood-sucking vampire in the film “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
“Ruben received plaudits from critics for his portrayal of a drug-dealing hairdresser in the 2001 movie “Blow,” which also starred Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp.His TV credits include appearances on ’30 Rock,’ ‘The Blacklist,’ and ‘Gotham.’
Groundlings Improv and Sketch Comedy Theater, where Ruben began as an artist and discovered his renowned transformative arrogance, expressed deep sorrow over his passing in a statement on Monday.
The theater said, “In the 1970s-80s, as a distinguished member of The Groundlings, Paul created his infamous character of Pee-wee Herman, which became a cultural phenomenon for decades.” “Paul’s contributions to comedy and entertainment have left a lasting impact on the world, and the entire Groundlings community will remember him fondly. We love you, Paul.
Late at night, comedian Jimmie Kimmel said in a statement, “Paul Reubens was not like anyone else – a fantastic and original comedic actor who made both children and their parents laugh at the same time.”
Every time he met someone, he conveyed the genuine joy of his hilarity and never forgot their birthday. We shall always remember him in my family.”
Comedian and podcaster Conan O’Brien remembered Paul Reubens’ “magic, generosity, artistry, and loving absurdity.”
In a statement, O’Brien said, “Everyone I know has received countless pointless memes from Paul on their birthdays, and I mean everyone. His genuine comedy and incredible kindness were a gift to us all. Damn, this is sad.”
Natasha Lyonne, star of “Poker Face” and “Orange is the New Black,” credited Reubens with launching her career because she made her acting debut in “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” when she was just 16.was a child performer.
Lyonne wrote on social media, ”Love you so much, Paul.” Always one. Thank you for all these years of my career and your everlasting friendship, and for teaching us what true play is.”
Paul Reubens, actor best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, dies at age 70 After Private Bout of Cancer