Pee-wee Herman Actor Paul Reubens Dies At 70
Actor, comedian, and writer, Paul Reubens, best known for his child-like character Pee-wee Herman, has passed away at 70. The heartbreaking news was announced on Pee-wee’s Instagram page by his estate.
“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 post added, “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.”
Also included in the post was a direct statement from Paul to his fans.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Paul wrote.
“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 made an immeasurable impact in the television and film industry.
In the late 1970s, Paul started his career after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe, the Groundlings; not only as a comedian but also as a great stage performer.
Paul introduced “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” in 1985 and returned years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-Wee”. He then landed on television from 1986 to 1990 with “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” on CBS, which earned an Emmy award respectively.
A popular scene of “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” is when he walked into a club of angry bikers but ended up winning them over after dancing to the 1958 hit song, “Tequila” by The Champs.
After the death of the comedian, the character’s iconic “Tequila” dance went viral again nearly 40 years later.
Paul received several credits during his career, including “Cocaine Bear,” “Matilda,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Blow,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Cheech And Chong’s Next Movie,” “Nice Dreams,” “The Blacklist,” “Reno 911,” “Buddy,” “The Tripper,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “Pushing Daisies.”
In 2016, Netflix released Pee-wee Herman’s latest installment, “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” with actor Joe Manganiello.
Paul brought so much joy in our childhood to adulthood and the memories will live on forever.
R.I.P. Paul.
