Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens passes away at 70
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Fans were taken aback and filled with sorrow upon hearing the recent news of Paul Reubens' passing.
He was a well-known actor, comedian, and the talented individual behind the beloved Pee-wee Herman character. On Sunday evening, the 70-year-old succumbed to a six-year-long battle with cancer.
Throughout his struggle, Paul Reubens chose to keep his illness private, not disclosing his diagnosis to the public. Reubens expressed regret for not sharing his health challenges with the world during those six years in a statement issued by his publicist after his passing.
'I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters,' the statement said.
'I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.'
Paul Reubens' rise to fame in the late 1970s began when he recruited the character of Pee-wee Herman to be part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings.
Donning a too-tight grey suit, white chunky loafers, and red bow tie, Pee-wee quickly became an iconic cultural idol—his eccentric quirks, too-cool-for-school one-liners, and subversive silliness captivating the minds of children and adults alike.
The live Pee-wee Herman Show debuted at a theatre in Los Angeles in 1981 and was a massive hit, later leading to 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure—a cult '80s classic featuring Pee-wee's beloved bike being stolen—and the 1988 follow-up, Big Top Pee-wee, in which our hero joins a circus.
Reubens brought Pee-wee to life again in 2016, at the age of 66, with Netflix's Pee-wee's Big Holiday. While the actor had experienced other success throughout his career, Pee-wee remained an indelible part of his life.
In a 2010 interview with Associated Press, Reubens reflected on the success of his character.
'People have tried to get me for years to go, “It wasn't really for kids, right?” Even the original show was for kids. I always censored myself to have it be kid-friendly,' Reubens explained.
'The whole thing has been just a gut feeling from the beginning. That's all it ever is, and I think it will always ever be. Much as people want me to dissect it and explain it, I can't. One, I don't know, and two, I don't want to know, and three, I feel like I'll hex myself if I know.'
Reubens was widely recognised for his iconic role in the beloved children's TV show, but his career extended well beyond that character. He took on diverse roles in various notable projects such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 30 Rock.
One of his memorable performances was in Danny DeVito's adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel Matilda. In this film, Reubens portrayed an FBI agent investigating Harry Wormwood, played by DeVito, who was involved in a stolen car parts operation from his garage.
Credit: Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers.
Reubens' life and career had its share of controversies. One notable incident was in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie theatre, which garnered much attention.
In 2002, Reubens faced legal troubles once again when the police searched his home and discovered a large collection of items, including photos, that the city attorney's office labelled as child pornography.
However, Reubens and his attorney argued that these materials were vintage collectible 'kitsch'.
'The moment that I realised my name was going to be said in the same sentence as children and sex, that's really intense,' said Reubens.
'That's something I knew from that very moment, whatever happens past that point, something's out there in the air that is really bad.'
After two years, the child pornography charges against Reubens were dropped, and instead, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour obscenity charge.
The legacy of Pee-wee Herman remains alive and will forever be tied to the actor who made it. He may be gone, but he is certainly not forgotten—the man and the character he created will live on for years to come.
May he rest in peace.
Members, what do you think about his passing? Also, could you share with us the roles you remember him for the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
He was a well-known actor, comedian, and the talented individual behind the beloved Pee-wee Herman character. On Sunday evening, the 70-year-old succumbed to a six-year-long battle with cancer.
Throughout his struggle, Paul Reubens chose to keep his illness private, not disclosing his diagnosis to the public. Reubens expressed regret for not sharing his health challenges with the world during those six years in a statement issued by his publicist after his passing.
'I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters,' the statement said.
'I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.'
The actor had been fighting cancer for six years. Credit: Facebook/99.9 WWCT.
Paul Reubens' rise to fame in the late 1970s began when he recruited the character of Pee-wee Herman to be part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings.
Donning a too-tight grey suit, white chunky loafers, and red bow tie, Pee-wee quickly became an iconic cultural idol—his eccentric quirks, too-cool-for-school one-liners, and subversive silliness captivating the minds of children and adults alike.
The live Pee-wee Herman Show debuted at a theatre in Los Angeles in 1981 and was a massive hit, later leading to 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure—a cult '80s classic featuring Pee-wee's beloved bike being stolen—and the 1988 follow-up, Big Top Pee-wee, in which our hero joins a circus.
Reubens brought Pee-wee to life again in 2016, at the age of 66, with Netflix's Pee-wee's Big Holiday. While the actor had experienced other success throughout his career, Pee-wee remained an indelible part of his life.
In a 2010 interview with Associated Press, Reubens reflected on the success of his character.
'People have tried to get me for years to go, “It wasn't really for kids, right?” Even the original show was for kids. I always censored myself to have it be kid-friendly,' Reubens explained.
'The whole thing has been just a gut feeling from the beginning. That's all it ever is, and I think it will always ever be. Much as people want me to dissect it and explain it, I can't. One, I don't know, and two, I don't want to know, and three, I feel like I'll hex myself if I know.'
Reubens was widely recognised for his iconic role in the beloved children's TV show, but his career extended well beyond that character. He took on diverse roles in various notable projects such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 30 Rock.
One of his memorable performances was in Danny DeVito's adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel Matilda. In this film, Reubens portrayed an FBI agent investigating Harry Wormwood, played by DeVito, who was involved in a stolen car parts operation from his garage.
Credit: Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers.
Reubens' life and career had its share of controversies. One notable incident was in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie theatre, which garnered much attention.
In 2002, Reubens faced legal troubles once again when the police searched his home and discovered a large collection of items, including photos, that the city attorney's office labelled as child pornography.
However, Reubens and his attorney argued that these materials were vintage collectible 'kitsch'.
'The moment that I realised my name was going to be said in the same sentence as children and sex, that's really intense,' said Reubens.
'That's something I knew from that very moment, whatever happens past that point, something's out there in the air that is really bad.'
After two years, the child pornography charges against Reubens were dropped, and instead, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour obscenity charge.
The legacy of Pee-wee Herman remains alive and will forever be tied to the actor who made it. He may be gone, but he is certainly not forgotten—the man and the character he created will live on for years to come.
May he rest in peace.
Members, what do you think about his passing? Also, could you share with us the roles you remember him for the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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never knew him
