The publicist of iconic American actor, comedian, writer, and producer Paul Reubens, more known for his TV persona "Pee-wee Herman," announced Monday (July 31) his death at the age of 70 due to cancer the night before (Sunday, July 30).
According to the Associated Press, the children's TV star's team, headed by long-time representative Kelly Bush Novak, said in a statement posted on his Facebook account that he "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," the statement added. "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."
Prior to Monday's announcement, Reubens's cancer diagnosis had not been previously disclosed.
"Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last six years," he wrote in what could be described as his final message to the public. "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."
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Career as Pee-wee Herman
Reubens was first known in the 1980s and 1990s for creating and giving life to the sarcastic but good-natured man-child Pee-wee Herman. The character's first appearance was in a Los Angeles stage play Reubens produced that gained enough of a following that HBO recorded and broadcast a performance in 1981.
Since then, he had his big break as he starred in the 1985 movie "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," directed by Tim Burton. While a modest box office hit during its time, the film endured as a cult classic.
In the aftermath, CBS gave him a Saturday morning slot for a children's show called "Pee-wee's Playhouse," which entertained both children and adults alike from 1986 to 1991.
Downfall and Resurgence
The effective death of Pee-wee Herman as a character happened when Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in 1991. He was also sentenced to three years probation in 2001 after pleading guilty of obscenity after police seized child pornography photographs from him.
Since then, Reubens developed into more mature characters, like his critically-acclaimed role as a drug-dealing hairdresser in the 2001 movie "Blow," which starred Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp.
He also made special appearances in TV shows like "30 Rock," "The Blacklist" and "Gotham."
Reubens only returned as Pee-wee Herman on Broadway in 2010 for "The Pee-wee Herman Show."
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
Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel remembered Reubens as "a brilliant and original comedian" that made whole families laugh.
"He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met," he added. "My family and I will miss him."
At the time of his death, Reubens was in the process of publishing a memoir and writing the scripts for two Pee-wee movies.
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