| Paul Reubens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Paul Rubenfeld |
| Born: | August 27, 1952 |
| Birth Hometown: | Peekskill, New York |
| Died: | July 30, 2023 (age 70) |
| Place of death: | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles |
| Occupation: | Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer |
| Years active: | 1977-2023 |
| Known for: | His alter ego man child character named Pee-Wee Herman |
| Website/URL: | http://www.peewee.com |
Paul Reubens (/ˈruːbənz/; né Rubenfeld; born August 27, 1952 - died July 30, 2023) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s, and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1982, Reubens began appearing in a show about a character he had been developing for years. The show was called The Pee-wee Herman Show, and ran for five sold-out months; HBO also produced a successful special about it. Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. His feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success, and soon developed into a cult film. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse. Two-and-a-half decades later, a third Pee-wee film was released exclusively on Netflix, called Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2015).
Death[]
Reubens died from cancer at age 70 on July 30, 2023 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had been diagnosed with cancer six years earlier, but had not revealed his diagnosis to the public. Following his death, a statement was released on his Instagram that was written by Reubens himself before he died: "Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing for 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". According to Reubens' estate in the caption: "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".
Show hosted[]
Shows appeared[]
- The Dating Game (1976)
- The Gong Show (1977)
- Top Chef
- Face Off
- To Tell the Truth (2016 Version)
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015 Version)
- Celebrity Wheel of Fortune