Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies from cancer at 70
He was not on the list.
Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose character Pee-wee Herman became a cultural phenomenon through films and TV shows, has died.
Reubens died Sunday night after a six-year struggle with cancer that he did not make public, his publicist said in a statement.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens said in a statement released with the announcement of his death. “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.”
The character with his too-tight gray suit, white chunky loafers and red bow tie was best known for the film “Pee-wee's Big Adventure” and the TV series “Pee-wee's Playhouse.”
Herman created Pee-wee when he was part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s. The live “Pee-wee Herman Show” debuted at a Los Angeles theater in 1981 and was a success with both kids during matinees and adults at a midnight show. HBO would air the show as a special.
Reubens took Pee-wee to the big screen in 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” The film, in which Pee-wee’s cherished bike is stolen, was said to be loosely based on Vittorio De Sica’s Italian neo-realist classic, “The Bicycle Thief.” The film, directed by Tim Burton and co-written by Phil Hartman of “Saturday Night Live,” sent Pee-wee on a nationwide escapade. The movie was a success, grossing $40 million, and continued to spawn a cult following for its oddball whimsy.
A sequel followed three years later in the less well-received “Big Top Pee-wee,” in which Pee-wee seeks to join a circus. Reubens’ character wouldn’t get another movie starring role until 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” for Netflix. Judd Apatow produced Pee-wee’s big-screen revival.
His television series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” ran for five seasons, earned 22 Emmys and attracted not only children but adults to Saturday-morning TV.
Both silly and subversive and championing nonconformity, the Pee-wee universe was a trippy place, populated by things such as a talking armchair and a friendly pterodactyl. The host, who is fond of secret words and loves fruit salad so much he once married it, is prone to lines like, “I know you are, but what am I?” and “Why don’t you take a picture; it’ll last longer?” The act was a hit because it worked on multiple levels, even though Reubens insists that wasn’t the plan.
“It’s for kids,” Reubens told The Associated Press in 2010. “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.
“The whole thing has been just a gut feeling from the
beginning," Reubens told the AP. "That’s all it ever is and I think
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.”
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American Dad! (2005)
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7.4
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The Blacklist (2013)
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Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 3: Magical Friendship (2015)
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Martha Plimpton, Dee Bradley Baker, Ashley Johnson, Patton
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Ivor (1-2, 4-8)
2015
Turbo FAST (2013)
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Tycho
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Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (2012)
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Todd Principal
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2015
1 episode
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in Portlandia (2011)
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7.8
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Weirdos' Lawyer
2015
1 episode
Paul Reubens, Catherine Keener, Jessica Biel, James Marsden,
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2015
Dee Bradley Baker, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Vincent
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1 episode
Freddie Prinze Jr., Steve Blum, Vanessa Marshall, Dave
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Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (2014)
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Bat-Mite
2014
Sanjay and Craig (2013)
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2014
1 episode
Paul Reubens and Karen Gillan in TV on the Radio: Happy
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TV on the Radio: Happy Idiot
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Racer Steven
2014
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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Sir Malachi
2014
1 episode
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
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Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
7.6
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The Riddler
Sunbather
2014
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011)
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7.0
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Ju-Long
2014
1 episode
Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012)
Comedy Bang! Bang!
7.6
TV Series
Pee-Wee Herman
2013
1 episode
Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace (2013)
Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
6.3
Video
Irv
2013
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure (2013)
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
5.9
Video
Screwy Squirrel
2013
Christina Ricci, Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, John
Oliver, J.B. Smoove, and Katy Perry in The Smurfs 2 (2013)
The Smurfs 2
5.3
Jokey Smurf
2013
Jack Angel, Anton Yelchin, and Katy Perry in The Smurfs 2
(2013)
The Smurfs 2
5.4
Video Game
Jokey Smurf
2013
Paul Reubens and Pete Chekvala in The Final Moments of Karl
Brant (2013)
The Final Moments of Karl Brant
7.4
Short
Bennett Ferryman
2013
Tron: Uprising (2012)
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8.2
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Pavel
2012–2013
17 episodes
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special (2012)
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
7.7
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The Riddler
2012
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
7.3
TV Series
Bat-Mite
2009–2011
4 episodes
Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, and
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The Smurfs
5.4
Jokey
2011
Mark Calaway, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Levesque, Mike 'The Miz'
Mizanin, and John Cena in WrestleMania XXVII (2011)
WrestleMania XXVII
6.7
TV Special
Pee-wee Herman
2011
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway (2011)
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7.6
TV Movie
Pee-Wee Herman
2011
Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin, John Cena, A.J. Styles, Colby Lopez,
Rebecca Quin, Natalya Neidhart, Trinity Fatu, Trevor Mann, Thea Trinidad, Tom
Budgen, and Macey Estrella in WWE Raw (1993)
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7.7
TV Series
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2010
2 episodes
Adventure Time (2010)
Adventure Time
8.6
TV Series
Gnome Ruler
Dancing Bug
2010
1 episode
Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Videogame (2010)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Videogame
7.0
Video Game
Bat-Mite
2010
Pee-wee Goes to Sturgis (2010)
Pee-wee Goes to Sturgis
6.2
Video
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2010
Pee-Wee Gets an iPad! (2010)
Pee-Wee Gets an iPad!
6.1
Video
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2010
Life During Wartime (2009)
Life During Wartime
6.4
Andy
2009
Chowder (2007)
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7.4
TV Series
Reuben
Rat #2
2007–2009
3 episodes
Area 57 (2007)
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5.8
TV Movie
The Alien
2007
Anna Friel and Lee Pace in Pushing Daisies (2007)
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8.4
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Oscar Vibenius
2007
2 episodes
Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim in Tim and Eric Awesome
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2007
1 episode
Reno 911!: Miami (2007)
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5.9
Sir Terrence
2007
Courteney Cox in Dirt (2007)
Dirt
6.9
TV Series
Chuck Lafoon
2007
3 episodes
Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, and
Jack McBrayer in 30 Rock (2006)
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8.3
TV Series
Gerhardt
2007
1 episode
Dominic Janes in Re-Animated (2006)
Re-Animated
2.8
TV Movie
Golly Gopher
2006
The Tripper (2006)
The Tripper
5.0
Frank Baker
2006
Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004)
Tom Goes to the Mayor
6.7
TV Series
Paul
2006
1 episode
Reno 911! (2003)
Reno 911!
7.9
TV Series
Rick
2006
1 episode
The Raconteurs: Steady, As She Goes (Version 2)
7.8
Music Video
Pit Boss
2006
Carrie Aizley and Christen Sussin in Campus Ladies (2006)
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8.2
TV Series
2006
1 episode
Dirt Squirrel (2005)
Dirt Squirrel
TV Movie
Dr Raccoonie
2005
Tripping the Rift (2004)
Tripping the Rift
6.8
TV Series
God
Devil
2005
1 episode
Hopeless Pictures (2005)
Hopeless Pictures
7.2
TV Series
Gollum
2005
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge (2004)
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
7.2
Video Game
Lock
2004
Teacher's Pet (2004)
Teacher's Pet
5.7
Dennis
2004
Rugrats (1991)
Rugrats
7.4
TV Series
Hermie the Elf
2002
2 episodes
The Groovenians (2002)
The Groovenians
2.7
TV Short
Jet
The Bubble
2002
Paul Reubens and Justin Timberlake in Elton John: The Red
Piano (2005)
Elton John: This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
7.5
Music Video
John Reid
2001
Calista Flockhart in Ally McBeal (1997)
Ally McBeal
6.9
TV Series
Louis
2001
1 episode
Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz in Blow (2001)
Blow
7.5
Derek Foreal
2001
Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts,
and Ray Romano in Everybody Loves Raymond (1996)
Everybody Loves Raymond
7.3
TV Series
Russell
2000
1 episode
Bridget Fonda, Paul Reubens, Billy Bob Thornton, Vince
Vaughn, Peter Fonda, and Dwight Yoakam in South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000)
South of Heaven, West of Hell
4.1
Arvid Henry
2000
Smash Mouth: All Star (1999)
Smash Mouth: All Star
7.3
Music Video
Spleen
1999
Hank Azaria, Janeane Garofalo, William H. Macy, Paul
Reubens, Greg Kinnear, Ben Stiller, Kel Mitchell, and Wes Studi in Mystery Men
(1999)
Mystery Men
6.1
Spleen
1999
Hercules (1998)
Hercules
6.6
TV Series
Mr. Herodotus
1998–1999
2 episodes
Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Norm MacDonald, and Reni Santoni
in Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Doctor Dolittle
5.4
Raccoon
1998
Robby Benson and Paige O'Hara in Beauty and the Beast: The
Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
5.9
Video
Fife
1997
Rene Russo in Buddy (1997)
Buddy
4.8
Professor Spatz
1997
Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)
Murphy Brown
6.9
TV Series
Andrew J. Lansing III
1995–1997
6 episodes
Danny DeVito, Embeth Davidtz, Kiami Davael, Pam Ferris, Rhea
Perlman, Jacqueline Steiger, Michael Valentine, and Mara Wilson in Matilda
(1996)
Matilda
7.0
FBI Agent
1996
Sam in Dunston Checks In (1996)
Dunston Checks In
5.3
Buck LaFarge
1996
Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before
Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
7.9
Lock
1993
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
5.7
Amilyn
1992
Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, Christopher
Walken, and Cristi Conaway in Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns
7.1
Penguin's Father
1992
Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
Pee-wee's Playhouse
8.1
TV Series
Pee-wee Herman
Billy Baloney
1986–1990
45 episodes
Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse (1988)
Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse
7.7
TV Movie
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, and Ryan
Dillon in Sesame Street (1969)
Sesame Street
8.1
TV Series
Pee-Wee Herman
1987–1988
3 episodes
Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Brandon Quintin Adams, and
Kelley Parker in Moonwalker (1988)
Moonwalker
6.0
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Big Top Pee-wee
5.1
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Jim Henson in Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie (1988)
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
7.4
TV Movie
Pee-wee Herman (segment "Put Down the Duckie")
1988
Paul Reubens, Frankie Avalon, Bob Denver, Annette Funicello,
Don Adams, and Stevie Ray Vaughan in Back to the Beach (1987)
Back to the Beach
5.9
Pee-wee Herman
1987
Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry in 227 (1985)
227
6.7
TV Series
Pee-wee Herman
1987
1 episode
Star Tours (1987)
Star Tours
8.0
Short
RX-24
1987
Joey Cramer in Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Flight of the Navigator
6.9
Max
1986
Bryan Adams: Reggae Christmas
3.6
Music Video
Paul Reubens
1985
All Star Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
7.7
TV Movie
Pee-Wee Herman
1985
Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
7.0
Pee-wee Herman
1985
Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
Faerie Tale Theatre
8.3
TV Series
Guest Interviewee
Pinocchio
1984–1985
2 episodes
Meatballs Part II (1984)
Meatballs Part II
3.7
Albert
Hara Krishna
1984
Phil Hartman and Lynne Marie Stewart in Cheeseball Presents
(1984)
Cheeseball Presents
5.4
TV Movie
Pee-Wee Herman (segment: Pee-Wee's Lemonade Stand)
1984
Danny DeVito, Paul Reubens, Howard Hesseman, and Rhea
Perlman in Likely Stories, Vol. 2 (1983)
Likely Stories, Vol. 2
7.7
TV Movie
Wally Bile (segment "School, Girls & You!")
1983
The Paragon of Comedy (1983)
The Paragon of Comedy
8.5
TV Movie
Arnie
Pee-wee Herman
1983
Wayland Flowers in Madame's Place (1982)
Madame's Place
6.8
TV Series
Pee-wee Herman
1982
1 episode
Pandemonium (1982)
Pandemonium
5.2
Johnson
1982
Twilight Theatre (1982)
Twilight Theatre
7.2
TV Movie
Pee Wee Herman (segment "The Pee-Wee Herman Show")
1982
Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in Mork & Mindy (1978)
Mork & Mindy
7.1
TV Series
Dickie Nimitz
1981
1 episode
Dream on! (1981)
Dream on!
7.5
1981
The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981)
The Pee-Wee Herman Show
8.0
TV Movie
Pee Wee Herman
1981
Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin in Nice Dreams (1981)
Nice Dreams
6.1
Howie Hamburger Dude
1981
The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980)
The Flintstone Comedy Show
6.6
TV Series
Freaky Frankenstone
1980
2 episodes
Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)
Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
6.0
Pee-Wee Herman
Desk Clerk - Groundling
1980
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers
7.9
Waiter
1980
Pray TV (1980)
Pray TV
5.1
Jack Chudnowski
1980
Michael J. Fox, Patricia Alice Albrecht, Curt Ayers, Dirk
Blocker, Debra Clinger, David Damas, Eddie Deezen, Brian Frishman, Stephen
Furst, Michael Gitomer, Trevor Henley, Marvin Katzoff, Joel Kenney, Keny Long,
Sal Lopez, David Naughton, Robyn Petty, Maggie Roswell, Christopher Sands, Andy
Tennant, Betsy Lynn Thompson, Carol Gwynn Thompson, and Brad Wilkin in Midnight
Madness (1980)
Midnight Madness
6.3
Pinball Proprietor
1980
Michael Keaton and Jim Belushi in Working Stiffs (1979)
Working Stiffs
6.6
TV Series
Heimlich
1979
2 episodes
Things We Did Last Summer (1978)
Things We Did Last Summer
6.9
TV Movie
Paul Oberon
1978
The Brotherhood (1968)
The Brotherhood
6.1
Wedding Guest
1968
Writer
Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
6.1
written by
2016
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway (2011)
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway
7.6
TV Movie
adapted from "The Pee-wee Herman Show" written by
created and conceived by
written by
2011
Pee-wee Goes to Sturgis (2010)
Pee-wee Goes to Sturgis
6.2
Video
Writer
2010
Pee-Wee Gets an iPad! (2010)
Pee-Wee Gets an iPad!
6.1
Video
Writer
2010
You Don't Know Jack (2001)
You Don't Know Jack
7.7
TV Series
Writer
2001
Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
Pee-wee's Playhouse
8.1
TV Series
creator
created by
writer
1986–1990
45 episodes
Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse (1988)
Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse
7.7
TV Movie
creator
written by
1988
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Big Top Pee-wee
5.1
written by
1988
Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
7.0
written by
1985
The Paragon of Comedy (1983)
The Paragon of Comedy
8.5
TV Movie
additional material
1983
The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981)
The Pee-Wee Herman Show
8.0
TV Movie
conceived by
1981
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