Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Ne; August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor and comedian, widely known for creating and portraying the character Pee-wee Herman.

Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe the Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. Reubens developed his Pee-wee character at the Groundlings. After a failed audition for Saturday Night Live, Reubens debuted a stage show starring Pee-wee, The Pee-wee Herman Show, in 1981. Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. He produced and wrote a feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by Tim Burton, which was a financial and critical success. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse.<ref name="Shanfield">Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult theater in Sarasota, Florida, in 1991. The arrest set off a chain reaction of national media attention,<ref name="Shanfield" /><ref name="persecuting">Template:Cite news</ref> though he received support from people in the entertainment industry. The arrest postponed Reubens's involvement in major projects until 1999, when he appeared in several big-budget projects including Mystery Men (1999) and Blow (2001). Reubens subsequently started giving interviews as himself rather than as Pee-wee.

Reubens acted in numerous shows such as Murphy Brown, 30 Rock, Portlandia, and The Blacklist. He revived The Pee-wee Herman Show, which he performed in Los Angeles and on Broadway, in 2010. He co-wrote and starred in the Netflix original film Pee-wee's Big Holiday, reprising his role as Pee-wee Herman, in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reubens's Pee-wee character maintained an enduring popularity with both children and adults. Playhouse garnered 15 Emmy Awards during its initial run, and was aired again on late-night television in the 2000s, during which TV Guide dubbed it among the top ten cult classic television programs. Reubens died in July 2023 from cancer.<ref name="Shanfield" />

Early life and education

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Reubens as a high school senior, 1970

Reubens was born Paul Rubenfeld in Peekskill, New York, on August 27, 1952,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and grew up in a Jewish family in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents, Judy (née Rosen) and Milton Rubenfeld, owned a lamp store. His mother was a teacher. His father was an automobile salesperson who had flown for Britain's Royal Air Force and for the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, and later became one of the founding pilots of the Israeli Air Force during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. An Orthodox Jew, he was one of five Jewish pilots to fly against Arab forces in smuggled fighter planes.<ref name="milton">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Reubens's two younger siblings are Luke (born 1958), who is a dog trainer,<ref name="perplex" /> and Abby (born 1953),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who is an attorney and a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reubens spent much of his childhood in Oneonta, New York. As a child, he frequented the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose winter headquarters were in Sarasota. The circus atmosphere sparked Reubens's interest in entertainment and influenced his later work.<ref name="vanityfair" /><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> He also loved to watch reruns of I Love Lucy, which made him want to make people laugh.<ref name="av" /> At age five, Reubens asked his father to build him a stage where he and his siblings would act out plays.<ref name="tribute">Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens attended Sarasota High School, where he was named president of the National Thespian Society. He was accepted into Northwestern University's summer program for gifted high-school students, joined the local Asolo Theater, Players of Sarasota Theater, and appeared in several plays.<ref name="perplex">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

After high school graduation, he attended Plymouth State University for one semester.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then attended Boston University. When he began auditioning for acting schools, he was turned down by the Juilliard School and Carnegie Mellon University. Reubens was accepted at the California Institute of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in Theatre in 1973.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While in California, his early jobs included working in restaurant kitchens and as a Fuller Brush salesman.<ref name="perplex" />

Career

1977–1979: Comedy beginnings

In the 1970s, Reubens began performing at local comedy clubs. Starting in 1977, he made 14 guest appearances on The Gong Show, four of which involved a boy–girl act he had developed with Charlotte McGinnis entitled The Hilarious Betty and Eddie.<ref name="perplex" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He soon joined the Los Angeles–based improvisational comedy team the Groundlings. He remained a troupe member for six years, working with Bob McClurg, Edie McClurg, John Paragon, Susan Barnes, and Phil Hartman. Hartman and Reubens became friends, and they often wrote and worked together on material.<ref name="reel">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1980, Reubens had a small part as a waiter in The Blues Brothers.

The character of "Pee-wee Herman" originated during a 1978 improvisation exercise with the Groundlings, where Reubens came up with the idea of a man who wanted to be a comic but was so inept at telling jokes that it was obvious to the audience that he would never make it.<ref name="bigger-Hurwitt">Template:Cite news</ref> Fellow Groundling Phil Hartman afterwards helped Reubens develop the character while another Groundling, John Paragon, helped write the show.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Despite being compared to other famous characters, such as Hergé's Tintin and Collodi's Pinocchio,<ref name="once future">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="limelight">Template:Cite news</ref> Reubens said that there was no specific source for "Pee-wee" other than a collection of ideas. Pee-wee's voice originated in 1970 when Reubens appeared in a production of Life with Father, where he was cast as one of the most obnoxious characters in the play. For this role, Reubens adopted a cartoon-like way of speaking, which became Pee-wee's voice.<ref name="local boy">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref><ref name="playhouse again">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref>

Pee-wee's first name came from a one-inch Pee Wee brand harmonica Reubens had as a child, and the surname Herman was the last name of an energetic boy Reubens knew from his youth.<ref name="vanityfair">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="playhouse again" /> The original small, gray suit Pee-wee wore had been handmade for Groundlings Director and Founder Gary Austin, who passed it on to Reubens. The origin of the red tie is less clear, as Reubens claimed that "someone" handed him the "little kid bow tie" before a performance.<ref name="small">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="twenty">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

1981–1984: The Pee-wee Herman Show

File:Paul Reubens 1984.jpg

Reubens exploring Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles (1984)

Reubens auditioned for the Saturday Night Live 1980–1981 season on the same day as comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Reubens told Entertainment Weekly hiring both was not an option because they were "the same type of performer", and he knew immediately Gottfried would get the job.<ref name="twenty" /> He also told the San Francisco Chronicle he believed that "the fix was in" because Gottfried was friends with one of the producers. Reubens was so angry and bitter that he decided he would borrow money and start his own show in Los Angeles using the character he had been developing during the previous few years, "Pee-wee Herman".<ref name="happy">Template:Cite news</ref>

With the help of other Groundlings like John Paragon, Phil Hartman, and Lynne Marie Stewart, Pee-wee acquired a small group of followers, and Reubens took his show to the Roxy Theatre where The Pee-wee Herman Show ran for five sellout months. He performed midnight shows for adults and weekly matinees for children, later entering the mainstream when HBO aired The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981 as part of their series On Location.<ref name="creator speaks" /> Reubens also appeared as Pee-wee in the 1980 film Cheech & Chong's Next Movie.<ref name="perplex" /> He again appeared in 1981's Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams;<ref name="BFI" /> the end credits of the film billed him as "Hamburger Dude". Reubens's act had mainly positive reactions and quickly acquired a group of fans, despite being described as "bizarre",<ref name="heart">Template:Cite news</ref> and Reubens being described as "the weirdest comedian around".<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Pee-wee was both "corny" and "hip", "retrograde" and "avant-garde".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

When Pee-wee's fame started growing, Reubens started to move away from the spotlight, keeping his name under wraps and making all his public appearance and interviews in character while billing Pee-wee as playing himself; Reubens was trying to "get the public to think that that was a real person".<ref name="bigger-Hurwitt" /><ref name="creator speaks">Template:Cite news</ref> Later on he would even prefer his parents be known only as Honey Herman and Herman Herman.<ref name="local boy" /> In the early and mid-1980s, Reubens made several guest appearances on Late Night with David Letterman as Pee-wee Herman which gave Pee-wee an even bigger following.<ref name="heart" /> During the mid-1980s, Reubens traveled the United States with a whole new The Pee-wee Herman Show, playing at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Caroline's in New York City and, in 1984, in front of a full Carnegie Hall.<ref name="reel" />

1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure

File:Pee-Wee Herman (1988).jpg

Reubens as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards

The success of The Pee-wee Herman Show prompted Warner Bros. to hire Reubens to write a script for a full-length Pee-wee Herman film. Reubens's original idea was to do a remake of Pollyanna, which Reubens claimed was his favorite film. Halfway through writing the script, Reubens noticed everyone at Warner Bros. had a bike with them, which inspired Reubens to start on a new script with Phil Hartman.<ref>Paul Reubens, Tim Burton, audio commentary, 2000, Warner Bros.</ref> When Reubens and the producers of Pee-wee's Big Adventure saw Tim Burton's work on Vincent (1982) and Frankenweenie (1984), they chose Burton to be the film's director.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The film tells the story of Pee-wee Herman embarking on nationwide adventure in search of his stolen bicycle. The film went on to gross $40,940,662 domestically, recouping almost six times its $7 million budget.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the time of release in 1985, the film received mixed reviews, but Pee-wee's Big Adventure developed into a cult film.<ref>Salisbury, Burton, p.50</ref>

1986–1991: Pee-wee's Playhouse

After seeing the success of Pee-wee's Big Adventure, the CBS network approached Reubens with an ill-received cartoon series proposal.<ref name="limelight" /> In 1986, CBS agreed to sign Reubens to act, produce, and direct his live-action children's program, Pee-wee's Playhouse, with a budget of $325,000 per episode, the same price as a prime-time sitcom,<ref name="creator speaks" /> and no creative interference from CBS; although CBS did request a few minor changes throughout the years.<ref name="av" /> After casting actors like Laurence Fishburne and S. Epatha Merkerson, production began in New York City.<ref name="twenty" /> The opening credits of the show were sung by Cyndi Lauper (under the pseudonym Ellen Shaw). Playhouse was designed as an educational yet entertaining and artistic show for children and, despite being greatly influenced by 1950s shows Reubens watched as a child like The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, The Mickey Mouse Club, Captain Kangaroo, and Howdy Doody, it quickly acquired a dual audience of kids and grownups.<ref name="once future" /><ref name="playhouse again" /><ref name="small" /> Reubens, always trying to make Pee-wee a positive role model, created a consciously moral show, one that would teach children the Golden Rule.<ref name="small" /> Reubens believed that children liked Playhouse because it was fast-paced, colorful and "never talked down to them"; while parents liked Playhouse because it reminded them of the past.<ref name="small" />

In 1986, Reubens (billed as Paul Mall) was the voice of the ship's computer in Flight of the Navigator. In 1987, Reubens provided the voice for the pilot droid RX-24 a.k.a. Captain "Rex" in Star Tours, a Star Wars-themed motion simulator attraction at Disneyland and Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris.<ref name="perplex" /> He also reprised the role of Pee-wee Herman in cameo appearances in the film Back to the Beach and TV show Sesame Street, the latter of which made a cameo in Playhouse.<ref name="speaking">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Right after the success of Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Reubens began working with Paramount Pictures on a sequel entitled Big Top Pee-wee. Reubens and George McGrath's script was directed by Grease director Randal Kleiser. The film was not as successful as its predecessor, receiving mild reviews and doing just over one third as well in the box office,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> earning only $15 million.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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Reubens giving an interview in character with Valeria Golino at the 1988 Academy Awards

Pee-wee's Playhouse aired from September 13, 1986, until November 10, 1990. Reubens had originally agreed to do two more seasons after the third, and when CBS asked Reubens about the possibility of a sixth season he declined, wanting to take a sabbatical.<ref name="twenty" /> Reubens had been suffering from burnout from playing Pee-wee full-time and had been warning that Pee-wee was temporary and that he had other ideas he would like to work on.<ref name="perplex" /> The parties agreed to end the show after five seasons, which included 45 episodes and a Christmas Special.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Playhouse garnered 22 Emmy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1992–2002: Public retreat and comeback

After his 1991 arrest (see below), Reubens kept a low profile, dedicating himself to writing and collecting a variety of things, "everything from fake food, to lamps",<ref name="creator speaks" /> although he did do some dubbing and took small parts in films such as 1992's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tim Burton's Batman Returns (Reubens portrayed the Penguin's father) and 1996's Matilda and Dunston Checks In. In 1993, he voiced the character Lock in another one of Burton's productions, The Nightmare Before Christmas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pee-wee's Playhouse had already ended by the time Reubens was arrested. He cited an overworked crew and a decline in the show's quality in his decision against making a sixth season. The show's popularity and quantity of episodes had allowed for rerun broadcasts, but CBS canceled the reruns on July 29, 1991.<ref name="no contest" /><ref name="bigger-Stein">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the mid-1990s, Reubens played a recurring role on the TV series Murphy Brown. The role earned him positive reviews and his only non-Pee-wee Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He appeared six times on the show between 1995 and 1997. Afterward, Reubens began working on an NBC pilot entitled Meet the Muckles, a show that would be based on You Can't Take It with You. The project got stuck in development hell and was later dropped when Reubens's ideas grew too elaborate and expensive, although Philip Rosenthal blamed NBC's negative response on Reubens being on a "blacklist".<ref name="vanityfair" />

By 1999, Reubens had given several interviews as himself and made public appearances while promoting the film Mystery Men, the first being on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also starred in Dwight Yoakam's Western South of Heaven, West of Hell, portraying a rapist and killer. In 2001, Reubens had his first extended television role since Playhouse, as the host of the short-lived ABC game show You Don't Know Jack, based on the video game series of the same name. It was cancelled after six episodes due to low ratings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens played a flamboyant hairdresser turned drug dealer in Ted Demme's 2001 drama Blow, which starred Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp. His performance was praised and he began receiving scripts for potential film projects.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="prison">Template:Cite news</ref>

2004–2008: Cameos and guest appearances

Reubens made cameos and guest appearances in numerous projects. He played Rick of the citizen's patrol on the popular Comedy Central series Reno 911!, which gained him a small role in the 2007 film Reno 911!: Miami.<ref name="grown up">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2006, he appeared in the second music video of the Raconteurs' song "Steady, As She Goes". The video has the band engaging in a comical soapbox car race, with Reubens playing the bad guy who sabotages the race.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2007, Reubens attended his own tribute at the SF Sketchfest, where he talked about his career with Ben Fong-Torres.<ref name="tribute" /> He also signed with NBC to make a pilot on a show called Area 57, a sitcom about a passive-aggressive alien,<ref name="grown up" /> but it was not picked up for the 2007–2008 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reubens did, however, appear on the hit NBC series 30 Rock as an inbred Austrian prince, a character Tina Fey created for him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also made three guest appearances on FX's series Dirt playing a washed-up, alcoholic reporter named Chuck Lafoon. This time he was recommended for the role by Dirt star and close friend Courteney Cox. Cox's husband, David Arquette, then cast Reubens for his directorial debut, the 2007 film The Tripper.<ref name="return again" />

In June 2007, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee Herman at the Spike TV's Guys Choice Awards for the first time since 1992.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens also had small parts dubbing or making cameos in a series of Cartoon Network projects such as the 2006 television film Re-Animated, the animated cartoon series Chowder, Tom Goes to the Mayor, and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!.

In 2008, Reubens was slated to appear as homeopathic antidepressant salesman Alfredo Aldarisio in the third episode of Pushing Daisies, but the role was recast with Raúl Esparza.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reubens instead appeared in the role of Oscar Vibenius in the series' 7th and 9th episodes.

Also, during 2008, Reubens did a PSA for Unscrew America, a website that aims to get people to change regular light bulbs for more energy-efficient ones in the form of CFLs and LED.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also appeared in Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

From 2009 to 2011, Reubens voiced Bat-Mite in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2009–2023: Revival and later work

In January 2009, Reubens hinted that negotiations were under way for his stage show to come back,<ref name="swindle" /> and in August the return of The Pee-wee Herman Show was announced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reubens said he felt Pee-wee calling, "I just got up one day and felt like I'm gonna come back, that was it."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The show is also a way to "introduce Pee-wee to the new generation that didn't know about it", preparing the way for Reubens's main project, the Playhouse film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Before this comeback, Reubens's present age and shape had been pointed out as a possible issue, since Pee-wee's slim figure and clean skin have been one of his trademarks. But after appearing for the first time since 1992 as Pee-wee at Spike TV's 2007 Guys Choice Awards, Reubens had remained optimistic and had jokingly said he's no longer nervous about being young Pee-wee again thanks to digital retouching.<ref name="twenty" />

File:SXSW 2016 - John Lee, Judd Apatow, Paul Reubens and Ted Sarandos (25778520661).jpg

John Lee, Judd Apatow, Reubens and Ted Sarandos at the premiere of Pee-wee's Big Holiday in 2016

The show was originally scheduled to begin November 8 and continue until the 29th at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood. Due to high demand, the show moved to Club Nokia at LA Live and was scheduled to run between January 12 and February 7, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> To promote the show, Reubens once again gave interviews in character, appearing as a guest on The Jay Leno Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (as well as O'Brien's subsequent Legally Prohibited Tour), and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, among others. A Twitter account, a Facebook account, and a new website were made for Pee-wee after the show changed venues.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 11, 2010, the show relocated to New York City for a limited run at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, selling over $3 million in advance tickets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An extra performance was taped for the HBO network on January 6, 2011, and debuted March 19.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

From 2012 to 2013, Reubens contributed his voice talents to the animated series Tron: Uprising as Pavel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, Reubens appeared in TV on the Radio's music video for "Happy Idiot".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2015, Netflix acquired the rights to produce a new Pee-wee film entitled Pee-wee's Big Holiday with Reubens and Judd Apatow producing the film, John Lee directing, and Reubens and Paul Rust writing the screenplay. The film released on March 18, 2016, on Netflix to positive reception.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reubens went on to reprise his role as pilot droid Rex in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a Star Wars-themed land that opened at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in 2019. Reubens previously portrayed the character in the original Star Tours attraction in 1987 and Star Wars Rebels in 2014. In Galaxy's Edge, the former Star Tours pilot droid RX-24 – "Rex" – has been reprogrammed into DJ R-3X, the house DJ of a bar and restaurant called Oga's Cantina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reubens also voiced Ivor in Minecraft: Story Mode, which he claimed to be among his favorite voice acting roles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Undeveloped scripts

When Reubens started giving interviews again after his 2002 arrest, he talked about the two scripts he had written for future Pee-wee Herman films.

Reubens once called his first script The Pee-wee Herman Story,<ref name="vanityfair" /> describing it as a black comedy. He also referred to the script as "dark Pee-wee" or "adult Pee-wee",<ref name="av">Template:Cite news</ref> with the plot involving Pee-wee becoming famous as a singer after making a hit single and moving to Hollywood, where "he does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk".<ref name="mtv" /> Reubens further explained the film has many "Valley of the Dolls moments".<ref name="prison" /> Reubens thought this script would be the first one to start production, but in 2006 Reubens announced he was to start filming his second script in 2007.<ref name="av" />

The second film, a family-friendly adventure, is called Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie by Reubens,<ref name="happy" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and follows Pee-wee and his Playhouse friends on a road-trip adventure, meaning that they would leave the house for the first time and go out into "Puppetland". All of the original characters of the show, live-action and puppets are included in Reubens's script. The story happens in a fantasy land that would be reminiscent of H.R. Pufnstuf and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.<ref name="mtv">Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2009, Reubens told Gary Panter that the rejected first script of Pee-wee's Big Adventure (which they co-wrote) could have a film deal very soon and that it would be "90 minutes of incredible beauty".<ref name="swindle">Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2009, while in character, Reubens said this film is "already done, the script is already fully written; It's ready to shoot." Most of the film will take place in Puppetland and claymation might be used.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Although he did not reveal much about the scripts, he said that one of the two films opens in prison.<ref name="prison" /> He also said that using CGI for "updating" the puppets' looks could be an option, but it all depended on the budget the films would have.<ref name="av" /> Reubens once mentioned the possibility of doing one of the two as an animated film along the lines of The Polar Express (2004), which uses performance capture technology, incorporating the movements of live actors into animated characters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens approached Pee-wee's Big Adventure director Tim Burton with one of the scripts and talked to Johnny Depp about the possibility of having him portray Pee-wee, but Burton was too busy, and Depp said he would have to think about it.<ref name="mtv" />

In January 2010, Reubens reprised his role as Pee-wee and reused the set of Pee-wee's Playhouse (albeit slightly modified) for a short sketch on Funny or Die. In the sketch, Pee-wee comes home and shows off a brand-new iPad given to him by Steve Jobs. This leads to a long argument between him and his puppet friends, who point out all of the iPad's disadvantages – even Conky himself points out its flaws by stating that "it looks like a giant iPhone". In the end, Pee-wee uses the iPad as a serving tray to hold glasses of milk and lemonade during a party being held at the Playhouse hours later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> All the voices of the puppet characters are dubbed in by different actors than the TV series, except for Globey whose voice is still done by George McGrath.Template:Citation needed

Personal life

Reubens attended the 1988 Academy Awards with Big Top Pee-wee co-star Valeria Golino, which stirred rumors that the two were dating.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following year Reubens exchanged vows with Doris Duke's adopted daughter, Chandi Heffner, at a mock wedding over which Imelda Marcos presided, in Shangri-La, Doris Duke's mansion in Honolulu, Hawaii.<ref name="vanityfair" />

Reubens reportedly dated actress Debi Mazar in 1993 after he started attending film premieres with her.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Reubens credited Mazar with ending his depression from his 1991 arrest.<ref> Template:Cite magazine</ref> According to Mazar, the relationship was never consummated.<ref>"Debi Mazar Opens Up About Her Platonic Love Affair With Pee Wee Herman".</ref>

In interviews conducted for Pee-wee as Himself, a documentary which premiered after Reubens's death, Reubens acknowledged that he was gay and discussed his relationship with a painter named Guy whom he credited with inspiring some of Pee-wee Herman's mannerisms. After the relationship ended, Reubens visited Guy in the hospital hours before he died of an AIDS-related illness. Reubens chose to focus on his career rather than publicly talk about his sexuality during his lifetime, saying, "I was out of the closet, and then, I went back in the closet. I wasn't pursuing the Paul Reubens career; I was pursuing the Pee-wee Herman career. [...] I was secretive about my sexuality even to my friends [out of] self-hatred or self-preservation. I was conflicted about sexuality. But fame was way more complicated."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Reubens and his co-star Lynne Marie Stewart remained close platonic friends until the end of Reubens's life. They were active in the Make-a-Wish Foundation making appearances in character to bring joy to terminally ill children; neither Reubens nor Stewart ever married or had any children of their own.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legal issues

1991 arrest

In July 1991, Reubens was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, for indecent exposure while watching a film at a porno theater.<ref name="sympathy">Template:Cite magazine</ref> During an unexpected police inspection, a detective detained Reubens, along with three others, as he was preparing to leave. When detectives examined his driver's license, Reubens told them "I'm Pee-wee Herman" and offered to perform a children's benefit for the sheriff's office "to take care of this".<ref name="report">Template:Cite news</ref> The next day, after a local reporter recognized Reubens's name, Reubens's attorney extended the same offer to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in exchange for withholding the story.<ref name="report" /> On the night of the arrest, Reubens traveled to Nashville, where his sister and lawyer lived, and then to New Jersey, where he stayed for the following months at his friend Doris Duke's estate.<ref name="vanityfair" />

This was Reubens's third arrest in the county. In 1971, Reubens had been arrested in the same county for loitering and prowling near an adult theater, though charges had been dropped. His second arrest occurred in 1983 when Reubens was placed on two years of probation for possession of marijuana, although adjudication was withheld.<ref name="no contest">Template:Cite news</ref>

The 1991 arrest was widely covered and Reubens became the subject of late-night talk show ridicule.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Disney-MGM Studios suspended a video from its studio tour that had shown Pee-wee explaining how voiceover tracks are produced. Toys "R" Us removed Pee-wee toys from its stores.<ref name="sympathy" />

Reubens released a statement denying the charges.<ref name="Us Weekly">Template:Cite news</ref> On November 7, 1991, he pleaded no contest. The plea avoided a charge on Reubens's record but obligated him to 75 hours of community service. As part of his service, he created, produced, and financed two antidrug public service announcements.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Despite the negative publicity, many artists who knew Reubens, such as Cyndi Lauper, Annette Funicello, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Valeria Golino, voiced support.<ref name="speaking" /><ref name="sympathy" /> Others who knew Reubens, such as Pee-wee's Playhouse production designer Gary Panter, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Big Top Pee-wee director Randal Kleiser, also spoke in support.<ref name="twenty" /><ref name="speaking" /> Reubens's fans organized support rallies after CBS canceled the reruns, picketing in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.<ref name="sympathy" /><ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> The television news magazine A Current Affair received "tens of thousands" of responses to a Pee-wee telephone survey in which callers supported Reubens by a nine-to-one ratio.<ref name="sympathy" />

Although Reubens did not offer interviews or appear on talk shows after his arrest,<ref name="bigger-Stein" /><ref name="Us Weekly" /> he did appear in character as Pee-wee Herman at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards on September 5,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> asking the audience, "Heard any good jokes lately?" He received a standing ovation. Reubens appeared as Pee-wee only once in 1992, when he participated in a Grand Ole Opry tribute to Minnie Pearl.<ref name="limelight" /><ref name="twenty" />

2002–2004: Subsequent charges

In November 2002, while filming David LaChapelle's video for Elton John's "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore", Reubens learned that police were at his home with a search warrant. Police were acting on a tip from a witness in the pornography case against actor Jeffrey Jones,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> finding among over 70,000 items of kitsch memorabilia, two grainy videotapes, and dozens of photographs that the city attorney's office characterized as a collection of "child pornography."<ref name="persecuting" /> Kelly Bush, Reubens's personal representative at the time, said the description of the items was inaccurate and stated the objects were "Rob Lowe's sex videotape", and a few 30- to 100-year-old kitsch collectible images."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens turned himself in to the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material improperly depicting a child under the age of 18 in sexual conduct.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The district attorney looked at Reubens's collection and computer and found no grounds for bringing any felony charges against him, while the city attorney, Rocky Delgadillo, formally charged Reubens on the last day allowed by statute.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reubens was represented by Hollywood criminal defense lawyer Blair Berk.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Quote box In December, he pleaded not guilty through Berk.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2004, child pornography charges were dropped in exchange for Reubens's guilty plea to a lesser misdemeanor obscenity charge. For the next three years, he was required to register his address with the sheriff's office, and he could not be in the company of minors without the permission of their parent or legal guardian.<ref name="creator speaks" />

Reubens later stated that he was a collector of erotica, including films, muscle magazines, and a sizable collection of mostly homosexual vintage erotica,<ref name="persecuting" /> such as photographic studies of teen nudes.<ref name="creator speaks" /> Reubens said that what the city attorney's office viewed as pornography he considered to be innocent art, and whether the memorabilia were pornographic images "depends on what one sees in those images". Reubens described the nude images as people "one hundred percent not" performing sexual acts.<ref name="creator speaks" />

Being an avid collector, Reubens often purchased bulk lots, and one of his vintage magazine dealers declared that "there's no way" he could have known the content of each page in the publications he bought, and the dealer recalled Reubens asking for "physique magazines, vintage [1960s] material, but not things featuring kids".<ref name="persecuting" />

During this ongoing legal issue, Reubens spent two years in Sarasota, Florida, caring for his terminally ill father, who died in February 2004 of cancer.<ref name="milton" /><ref name="return again">Template:Cite news</ref>

Reception and legacy

File:Paul Reubens by Gage Skidmore.jpg

Reubens in 2019

Reubens had not always thought of his character as one for children prior to the mid-1980s, when he became more selective of what should and should not be associated with Pee-wee.<ref name="small" /> He was a heavy smoker and hired security to make sure that children never saw him with a cigarette while in costume.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He refused to endorse candy bars and other unhealthy food; he said in 1999 that he had proposed "Ralston Purina Pee-wee Chow cereal", but the sugar-free product was not released due to a negative reaction in a blind taste test.<ref name="vanityfair" />

Pee-wee was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by 1989,<ref name="vanityfair" /> and successfully built a Pee-wee franchise, with toys, clothes, and other items generating more than $25 million at its peak in 1988.<ref name="sympathy" /> Reubens also published a book as Pee-wee in 1989 called Travels with Pee-Wee.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> CBS aired reruns of Playhouse until July 1991, when Reubens was arrested, pulling from their schedule the last two remaining reruns.<ref name="I">Template:Cite news</ref> Fox Family Channel briefly aired reruns of the Playhouse in 1998.<ref name="twenty" /> In early July 2006, Cartoon Network began running a teaser promo during its Adult Swim lineup. A later press release and many other promos confirmed that the show's 45 original episodes would air nightly from Monday to Thursday starting on that date.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Playhouse attracted 1.5 million viewers nightly. In 2007, TV Guide named Playhouse one of the top 10 TV cult classics of all time.<ref name="small" /> Several children's television personas cite Pee-wee Herman as an inspiration, including Steve Burns of Blue's Clues<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Stephen Hillenburg of SpongeBob SquarePants.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In November 2004, all 45 episodes of the Playhouse, plus six episodes that had never before been released on home video, were released on DVD split between two box set collections. On July 3, 2013, Shout! Factory announced that they had acquired the rights to the entire series from Reubens, which was released on Blu-ray on October 21, 2014. In addition, the entire series was digitally remastered from the original 35mm film elements and original audio tracks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Pee-wee's tight-fitting Glen plaid suits have made him a "style icon",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with fashion houses and designers like Christopher Bailey, Ennio Capasa, Miuccia Prada,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Viktor & Rolf,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Thom Browne creating tightly cut suits with high armholes and short trousers that have been compared to Pee-wee's.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reubens discussed plans for a museum, which would contain many of the Playhouse sets and props he owned.<ref name="I" />

A two-part documentary series on Reubens's life, Pee-wee as Himself, will premiere on HBO in 2025. Reubens took part in the filming of the documentary prior to his death in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reubens reportedly completed writing his autobiography before his death which his estate hopes to publish posthumously.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

Reubens died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The immediate cause of his death was acute hypoxic respiratory failure.<ref name="Deadline Hollywood">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the time of his death he was diagnosed with both myelogenous leukemia and metastatic lung cancer.<ref name="Deadline Hollywood"/> He had been diagnosed six years earlier, but had not revealed his diagnosis to the public.<ref name="Shanfield" />

Following his death, a statement written by Reubens was released: Template:Blockquote

Reubens was cremated, and his remains were interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.<ref name="Deadline Hollywood"/>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	Pray TV<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Jack Chudnowski
	Midnight Madness<ref name="TV Guide">Template:Cite web</ref>	Pinball City Proprietor
	The Blues Brothers<ref name="TV Guide" />	Chez Paul waiter
	Cheech and Chong's Next Movie<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman/Desk Clerk
1981	Nice Dreams<ref name="BFI">Template:Cite web</ref>	Howie Hamburger Dude
	Dream On!<ref name="TV Guide" />
1982	Pandemonium<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Johnson
1984	Meatballs Part II<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Albert / Hara Krishna
1985	Pee-wee's Big Adventure<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman	Also writer; credited as Pee-wee Herman
1986	Flight of the Navigator<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2">Template:Cite web A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>	Trimaxion/Max	Voice; credited as Paul Mall
1987	Back to the Beach<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman
1988	Big Top Pee-wee<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />		Also writer and producer Nominated — Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Movie ActorTemplate:Citation needed; credited as Pee-wee Herman
1992	Batman Returns<ref name="TV Guide" />	Tucker Cobblepot
	Buffy the Vampire Slayer<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Amilyn
1993	The Nightmare Before Christmas<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Lock	Voice
1996	Dunston Checks In<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Buck LaFarge
	Matilda<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	FBI Agent Bob
1997	Buddy<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Professor Spatz
	Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Fife	Voice, direct-to-video
1998	Dr. Dolittle<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Raccoon	Voice
1999	Mystery Men<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	The Spleen
2000	South of Heaven, West of Hell<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Arvid Henry
2001	Blow<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Derek Foreal
2004	Teacher's Pet<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Dennis	Voice
2006	The Tripper<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Frank Baker
2007	Reno 911!: Miami<ref name="TV Guide" />	Sir Terrence Benedino
2009	Life During Wartime<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Andy
2011	The Smurfs<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Jokey Smurf	Voice
2013	The Smurfs 2<ref name="TV Guide" />
	Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Screwy Squirrel	Voice, direct-to-video
	Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Irv
2015	Accidental Love<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Edwin
2016	Pee-wee's Big Holiday<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman	Also writer and producer; credited as Pee-wee Herman
2023	Quiz Lady<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Himself	Posthumous release (Final film role)

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1979	Working Stiffs<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Heimlich	2 episodes
1980–1981	The Flintstone Comedy Show	Freaky Frankenstone	Voice, 18 episodes (The Frankenstones segment)
1980	Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Various roles	Television special
	Steve Martin: All Commercials<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1981	Mork & Mindy<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes">Template:Cite web</ref>	Dickie Nimitz	Episode: "Long Before We Met"
	The Pee-wee Herman Show<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman	Television special
1982	Madame's Place<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Himself	Season: 1 Episode: 34
1984	Faerie Tale Theatre<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pinocchio	Season: 3 Episode: 3 "Pinocchio"
	Cheeseball Presents<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pee-wee Herman	TV movie
1985	Saturday Night Live<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman (host)	Episode: "Pee-wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band"
1986–1990	Pee-wee's Playhouse<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman	45 episodes; also creator, writer, director, executive producer and set decorator Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design (1988) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graphics and Title Design (1991) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming (1987–1988, 1990–1991) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series (1987, 1990–1991) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For A Children's Series (1987–1988) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For A Children's Series (1988, 1990–1991) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design (1989–1991)<ref name="Television Academy" />
1987	227<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />		Episode: "Toyland"
1988	Sesame Street<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />		Episode: "Put Down the Duckie"
	Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special<ref name="TV Guide" />		Television special; also writer, director and executive producer
credited as Pee-wee Herman
1995–1997	Murphy Brown<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Andrew J. Lansing III	6 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (1995)<ref name="Television Academy">Template:Cite web</ref>
2000	Everybody Loves Raymond<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Russell	Episode: "Hackidu"
2001	You Don't Know Jack<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Troy Stevens	6 episodes
	Ally McBeal<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Louis	Episode: "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade"
2002	Rugrats<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Hermie the Elf	Voice, episode: "Babies in Toyland"
	The Groovenians<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Jet	Voice; pilot
2005	Tripping the Rift<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	God / Devil	Voice, episode: "Chode's Near Death-Experience"
2006	Campus Ladies<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Drama instructor	Episode: "Drama Class"
	Reno 911!<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Rick	Episode: "Rick's On It"
	Re-Animated<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Golly Gopher	Voice, television film
2007	Area 57<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Alien	Pilot
	30 Rock<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Gerhardt Hapsburg	Episode: "Black Tie"
	Dirt<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Chuck Lafoon	3 episodes
	Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!<ref name="TV Guide" />	The Moon	Episode: "Cats"
	Pushing Daisies<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Oscar Vibenius	2 episodes
2007–2009	Chowder<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva2" />	Reuben	Voice, 3 episodes
2009–2011	Batman: The Brave and the Bold<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Bat-Mite	Voice, 4 episodes
2010	Adventure Time<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Gnome Ruler, Dancing Bug	Voice, episode: "Power Animal"
	WWE Raw<ref name="TV Guide" />	Pee-wee Herman	1 episode; special guest
2011	The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway<ref name="TV Guide" />	Pee-wee Herman	Television special Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special<ref name="Television Academy" />
2012–2013	Tron: Uprising<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Pavel	Voice, 17 episodes
2012–2015	Robot Chicken<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	The Riddler / Sunbather	Voice, 3 episodes
2013	Comedy Bang! Bang!<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Pee-wee Herman	Episode: "Pee Wee Herman Wears a Halloween Costume"
2014	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" />	Martin Milton/Sir Malachi	Voice, episode: "Mazes and Mutants"
	Sanjay and Craig<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Benji Warlin	Voice, episode: "Googas"
	Star Wars Rebels<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva2" />	RX-24	Voice, episode: "Droids in Distress"
	Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered<ref name="TV Guide" /><ref name="btva2" /><ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>	Bat-Mite	Voice, television film
	Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness	Ju Long	Voice, episode: "The Hunger Game"<ref name="btva2" />
	Phineas and Ferb<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva2" />	Professor Parenthesis	Voice, episode: "The O.W.C.A. Files"
2014 & 2016	American Dad!<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Wyatt Borden	Voice, episode: "Blagsnarst, a Love Story"
2014–2015	The Blacklist<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Mr. Vargas	5 episodes
2015	Portlandia<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Weirdos' Lawyer	Episode: "Dead Pets"
	Turbo Fast	Tycho	Voice, episode: "Turboldly Go"<ref name="btva2" />
2015–2016	Pickle and Peanut<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Couch Dracula	Voice, 2 episodes
2015–2017	Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /><ref name="btva2" />	Milk Man, Butterman	Voice, 3 episodes
2016–2017	Gotham<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	Elijah Van Dahl	3 episodes
2017–2018	Voltron: Legendary Defender<ref name="TV Guide" />	Unliu Swap Shop Owner	Voice, 3 episodes
2018	Mosaic<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" />	JC Schiffer	7 episodes
2018–2019	Legends of Tomorrow<ref name="TV Guide" />	Dybbuk	Voice, 5 episodes
2019	Tigtone	Cryptomb	Voice, episode: "Tigtone and the Cemetery of the Dead"
	What We Do in the Shadows<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Paul	Episode: "The Trial"
	The Conners<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Sandy Bitensky	Episode: "Lanford, Toilet of Sin"
2021	The Tom and Jerry Show	Pontius Pig	Voice, episode: "Sock It to Me"
2023	Bob's Burgers	Pat	Voice, episode: "Amelia" (Final role; dedicated in memory)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	Pee-wee as Himself	Himself	Two-part documentary series, posthumous release

Video games

Year	Title	Voice role
2004	The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge	Lock<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	Minecraft: Story Mode	Ivor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva2" />
2016	Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare	Willard Wyler<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2	Ivor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva2" />

External links

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