Paul Reubens was an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and children’s entertainer.
He was best known for his character Pee-wee Herman.
Paul Reubens was born on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York. He grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and attended Boston University and the California Institute of the Arts.
In the early 1980s, Reubens created the character Pee-wee Herman, a childlike man-child with a love of toys, magic, and adventure. The character quickly became popular, and Reubens starred in a successful HBO special, The Pee-wee Herman Show, in 1981.
Reubens then starred in the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which was a critical and commercial success. He followed that up with the 1988 film Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which was a popular children’s television show.
Paul Reubens continued to perform as Pee-wee Herman in various stage shows and television specials throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He also starred in the 2009 film Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.
Reubens died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70. He was diagnosed with cancer six years prior and had not revealed it to the public.
Reubens was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, and his death was a major loss. He will be remembered for his creativity, his humor, and his ability to bring joy to people of all ages.
Image credit
photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons