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United States Paul Reubens was an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, recognized for his creation and portrayal of the character Pee-wee Herman.
Reubens produced a 30-second public service message for the Partnership For Drug-Free America commercial as part of a settlement for legal issues. This PSA was mostly shown in movie theaters.
Paul Reubens' HBO documentary, "Pee-wee as Himself," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. This intimate film provided insights into his life and career, including details about his private battle with cancer, which he kept from the film team during production.
Netflix acquired the rights to produce a new Pee-wee film, "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," with Reubens producing, writing (with Paul Rust), and starring.
Reubens provided the voice for the pilot droid RX-24 a.k.a. Captain "Rex" in Star Tours, a Star Wars-themed motion simulator ride at Disneyland and Disney-MGM Studios. He later reprised this role in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge as DJ R-3X.
Reubens reprised his role as Pee-wee Herman for a short sketch on Funny or Die, showcasing Pee-wee interacting with an iPad.
Reubens appeared in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for Unscrew America, a website promoting the use of energy-efficient light bulbs.
Paul Reubens, born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York, grew up in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents owned a lamp store. His mother, Judy (Rosen), was a teacher, and his father, Milton Rubenfeld, was a car salesman and a pioneering pilot. Reubens joined the local Asolo Theater at age 11 and later attended Boston University and the California Institute of the Arts, graduating with a BFA in Theatre in 1973. While performing at local comedy clubs in the mid-1970s, he made four guest appearances on “The Gong Show” before joining the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. There, he developed the character Pee-wee Herman, a man-child known for his gray suit, red bow tie, and distinctive voice, which debuted in 1978.
Pee-wee Herman gained significant traction with “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” (1981), which ran for five sold-out months at the Roxy nightclub in Los Angeles and was later taped as an HBO special. Reubens maintained the persona completely, appearing in character for all public engagements and interviews. In 1985, he co-wrote and starred in “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” directed by Tim Burton, which grossed $45 million against a $7 million budget. This success led CBS to develop “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1990), a live-action children’s program with a substantial budget and complete creative control for Reubens. The show earned 22 Emmy Awards during its five-season run. Subsequent projects included “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988), which was less successful at the box office.
After his arrest in 1991, Reubens maintained a lower public profile but continued to act, taking on diverse roles. He appeared as the Penguin’s father in “Batman Returns” (1992) and a vampire henchman in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992). He provided voice work for “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) and had a recurring role as Andrew J. Lansing III on “Murphy Brown” (1995-1997), which earned him an Emmy nomination. Later film credits include “Dunston Checks In” (1996), “Matilda” (1996), “Buddy” (1997), and “Mystery Men” (1999). In 2016, he reprised his iconic role in the Netflix original film “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.” Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70, from acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to acute myelogenous leukemia, a diagnosis he kept private for six years.
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