News

Paul Reubens, Actor Known For Iconic Character Pee-wee Herman, Dies At 70

Paul Reubens, the comedic actor best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, died from cancer on Sunday night. He was 70.

In a statement posted on Instagram after his death, Reubens wrote, “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing 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.”

His estate also wrote in the caption, saying that Pee-wee Herman believed in the “importance of kindness” and that he would live on forever as a “man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

Reubens began his comedy career in the 1970s after joining the Groundlings, a live comedy troupe. In 1980, he started The Pee-wee Herman Show, which quickly gained a cult following. His character became iconic as a man-child with catchphrases like “I know you are, but what am I?” The stage production soon earned a special at HBO and a feature film debut entitled Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. After a sequel was released, the character became part of the CBS morning show Pee-wee’s Playhouse.

The actor made the decision to end the TV show shortly before he besmirched his image when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Florida. He drew intense media scrutiny, causing him to step away from playing Pee-wee.

In 2004, Reubens was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge centered around photographs of minors engaged in sexual conduct.

IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2022

But Reubens revived his career later on through appearances in films like Blow with Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp as well as TV shows like 30 Rock and Gotham.

He reprised his role as Pee-wee in 2010 when he relaunched the show on Broadway, and in 2016, he starred in Netflix’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, which was his last film role before his death. Below are some reactions honoring his life and career.

Alex Nguyen

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Drone Footage Shows Old Well’s Blowout Causing Big Stink In Texas Town

https://youtu.be/GifzZHGIkb4 Drone footage and eyewitness video on the ground showed chemical water gushing from a…

8 hours ago

VIDEO: Multiple Water Rescues Carried Out As Honduras Hit By Tropical Storm

https://youtu.be/0O7CdOTQ5OQ The Honduran fire department said it carried out multiple water rescues and evacuations as…

8 hours ago

Kanye West Said ‘Jewish Masters’ Controlled Kim Kardashian & His Kids, Ex-Employee Claims In New Lawsuit

Despite the steady flood of assault and discrimination lawsuits and accusations against West, he continues…

10 hours ago

Amid Bitter Divorce & Conflict Over Kids, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Head To Court In $67 Million Lawsuit Over Winery

In March, the LA Superior Court rejected Jolie’s allegations that Pitt’s suit was “Frivolous, malicious…

10 hours ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Armand Assante On Why Mob Movies Still Intrigue Audiences, His New Film ‘Don Q’

An actor known for his role as the mob boss John Gotti in the 1996…

12 hours ago

VIDEO: Legislators Cheer As Colombian Senate Approves Law Banning Child Marriage After 17-Year Campaign

https://youtu.be/9JJm5t8zTAs Colombian representatives erupted in cheers after the country’s Senate approved a law prohibiting the…

12 hours ago