Paul Rubens, 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.
Leave a comment