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Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Reubens at Phoenix Fan Fusion in 2019
Born
Paul Rubenfeld

(1952-08-27)August 27, 1952
Died July 30, 2023(2023-07-30) (aged 70)
Education Boston University
California Institute of the Arts (BFA)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active 1977–2023
Parent(s)
  • Milton Rubenfeld (father)
Relatives Abby Rubenfeld (sister)

Paul Reubens (born Paul Rubenfeld; August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He was best known for creating and playing the funny character Pee-wee Herman.

Reubens started his career in the 1970s with a comedy group called The Groundlings in Los Angeles. He was an improv comedian and stage actor. In 1982, Reubens launched a show about Pee-wee Herman, a character he had been working on for years. The Pee-wee Herman Show was a huge success. HBO even made a special about it.

Pee-wee quickly became a popular character. For about ten years, Reubens played Pee-wee in all his public appearances. His movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), was directed by Tim Burton. It was very successful and became a cult film (a movie that gains a strong, loyal fanbase over time). The sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was not as popular. From 1986 to 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's TV show Pee-wee's Playhouse.

After 2006, Reubens appeared in many other projects. These included TV shows like Reno 911! (2006) and 30 Rock (2007). He also voiced Pavel in the Disney XD series Tron: Uprising (2012–2013). In 2010, he brought The Pee-wee Herman Show to Broadway. In 2016, Reubens co-wrote and starred in the Netflix movie Pee-wee's Big Holiday. He played Pee-wee Herman again in this film.

Paul Reubens' Early Life and Interests

Paul Reubens HS Yearbook
Reubens as a high school senior, 1970

Paul Reubens was born Paul Rubenfeld in Peekskill, New York, on August 27, 1952. He grew up in Sarasota, Florida, in a Jewish family. His parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, owned a lamp store. His mother was a teacher. His father was a car salesperson who had flown planes in World War II. He also helped start the Israeli Air Force.

Paul had two younger siblings: Luke, a dog trainer, and Abby, an attorney.

Reubens spent a lot of his childhood in Oneonta, New York. As a kid, he often visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus had its winter home in Sarasota. This circus atmosphere made Reubens interested in entertainment. It also influenced his later work. He loved watching reruns of I Love Lucy, which made him want to make people laugh. When he was five, Reubens asked his dad to build him a stage. He and his siblings would perform plays there.

Reubens went to Sarasota High School. He was president of the National Thespian Society. He joined local theater groups and acted in several plays.

After high school, he attended Boston University. He tried out for many acting schools. He was accepted into the California Institute of the Arts. Reubens moved to California. He worked in restaurants and as a salesman.

In the 1970s, Reubens started performing at comedy clubs. He appeared on The Gong Show several times with a partner. He then joined The Groundlings, an improv comedy team in Los Angeles. He was a member for six years. He worked with Phil Hartman, who became a close friend. They often wrote comedy material together. In 1980, Reubens had a small part in the movie The Blues Brothers.

The Birth of Pee-wee Herman

PaulReubens as Pee-Wee
Reubens giving an interview as Pee-wee with Valeria Golino at the 1988 Academy Awards

The character of "Pee-wee Herman" began in 1978. It started during an improv exercise with The Groundlings. Reubens thought of a man who wanted to be a comedian but was not very good at telling jokes. Fellow Groundling Phil Hartman helped Reubens develop the character. Another Groundling, John Paragon, helped write the show.

Reubens said there was no single idea for Pee-wee. It was a mix of many ideas. Pee-wee's voice started in 1970. Reubens was in a play called Life with Father. He played a very annoying character. For this role, Reubens used a cartoon-like voice. This voice became Pee-wee's.

Pee-wee's first name came from a small "Pee Wee" brand harmonica Reubens had as a child. The last name, Herman, belonged to an energetic boy Reubens knew when he was young. The small gray suit Pee-wee always wore was first made for the Groundlings' director. He gave it to Reubens. The red tie's origin is less clear. Reubens said "someone" gave him the "little kid bow tie" before a show.

The Pee-wee Herman Show: A New Kind of Comedy

Paul Reubens 1984
Reubens exploring Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles (1984)

Reubens tried out for Saturday Night Live in 1980. But another comedian, Gilbert Gottfried, got the job. Reubens was upset. He decided to create his own show in Los Angeles. He would use the character he had been working on, "Pee-wee Herman".

With help from other Groundlings like John Paragon and Phil Hartman, Pee-wee gained fans. Reubens took his show to The Roxy Theatre. The Pee-wee Herman Show sold out for five months. It had midnight shows for adults and weekly shows for children. It became very popular when HBO aired The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981. Reubens also appeared as Pee-wee in the films Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980) and Nice Dreams (1981).

Pee-wee's act was often called "bizarre" and Reubens "the weirdest comedian." But it got mostly good reactions and many fans. Pee-wee was seen as both "old-fashioned" and "modern."

As Pee-wee's fame grew, Reubens stayed out of the spotlight. He kept his own name private. He made all his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. Reubens wanted people to think Pee-wee was a real person. He even preferred his parents to be known as Honey Herman and Herman Herman. In the early to mid-1980s, Reubens appeared as Pee-wee Herman on Late Night with David Letterman. This made Pee-wee even more popular. In the mid-1980s, Reubens toured the United States with a new The Pee-wee Herman Show. He performed in places like Minneapolis and New York City. In 1984, he performed at Carnegie Hall.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure: A Movie Star is Born

The success of The Pee-wee Herman Show led Warner Bros. to hire Reubens. They wanted him to write a movie script for Pee-wee Herman. Reubens first wanted to remake Pollyanna, which he said was his favorite film. While writing, Reubens noticed everyone at Warner Bros. had a bike. This gave him the idea for a new script with Phil Hartman.

When Reubens and the movie's producers saw Tim Burton's short films, they chose Burton to direct. The movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, is about Pee-wee Herman searching for his stolen bicycle. The film earned over $40 million in the U.S. It made almost six times its $7 million budget. When it came out in 1985, the movie got mixed reviews. But Pee-wee's Big Adventure later became a cult film.

Pee-wee's Playhouse: A TV Show for Everyone

Pee-Wee Herman (1988)
Reubens as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards

After Pee-wee's Big Adventure was a hit, CBS network asked Reubens to create a cartoon series. Instead, in 1986, CBS signed Reubens to act, produce, and direct his own live-action children's show. This show was Pee-wee's Playhouse. It had a budget of $325,000 per episode, similar to a prime-time comedy show. CBS agreed not to interfere with his creative ideas, except for a few small changes over the years.

Actors like Laurence Fishburne and S. Epatha Merkerson were cast. Production began in New York City. The show's opening song was sung by Cyndi Lauper.

Playhouse was designed to be an educational, fun, and artistic show for children. It was inspired by 1950s shows Reubens watched as a child. These included The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Captain Kangaroo. The show quickly gained both child and adult viewers. Reubens always wanted Pee-wee to be a good role model. He created a show that taught children about being kind and fair to others. Reubens believed kids liked Playhouse because it was fast-paced and colorful. He also felt it "never talked down to them." Parents liked it because it reminded them of their own childhood.

In 1986, Reubens (using the name Paul Mall) voiced the ship's computer in Flight of the Navigator. In 1987, he voiced the pilot droid RX-24, also known as Captain "Rex," in Star Tours. This was a Star Wars-themed ride at Disneyland and Disney-MGM Studios. He also played Pee-wee Herman in small appearances in the movie Back to the Beach and on Sesame Street.

After Pee-wee's Big Adventure was a success, Reubens worked on a sequel. It was called Big Top Pee-wee. The film was not as successful as the first movie. It received mild reviews and earned less money.

Pee-wee's Playhouse aired from September 13, 1986, to November 10, 1990. Reubens decided to end the show after five seasons. He felt tired from playing Pee-wee all the time. He wanted to work on other ideas. The show had 45 episodes and a Christmas Special. Playhouse won 15 Emmy Awards.

Public Reaction and Return to Acting

In July 1991, Paul Reubens faced some public challenges. His situation was widely reported. Disney-MGM Studios temporarily stopped showing a video of Pee-wee. Toys "R" Us removed Pee-wee toys from its stores.

Pee-wee's Playhouse had already finished its run when this happened. Reubens had decided not to make a sixth season. He felt the crew was overworked and the show's quality was declining. Even though the show was popular, CBS canceled its reruns on July 29, 1991.

Despite the negative news, many artists supported Reubens. These included Cyndi Lauper, Annette Funicello, and Valeria Golino. Fans also organized rallies to support him. They protested in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. A TV news show found that most callers supported Reubens.

Reubens did not give interviews or appear on talk shows for a while. However, he did appear as Pee-wee at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards in September. He received a standing ovation. Reubens appeared as Pee-wee only once in 1992. This was for a tribute to Minnie Pearl.

1990s and Beyond: New Roles and Comebacks

During the 1990s, Reubens kept a low profile. He focused on writing and collecting different items. He also did some voice acting and took small parts in movies. These included 1992's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tim Burton's Batman Returns. In Batman Returns, Reubens played the Penguin's father. He also appeared in 1996's Matilda and Dunston Checks In. In 1993, he voiced the character Lock in another Burton production, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Reubens dated actress Debi Mazar in 1993. He said she helped him feel better after a difficult time.

In the mid-1990s, Reubens had a recurring role on the TV series Murphy Brown. This role earned him positive reviews. He also received his first Emmy nomination that was not for Pee-wee. He appeared on the show six times between 1995 and 1997.

By 1999, Reubens started giving interviews as himself. He also made public appearances. He promoted the movie Mystery Men. His first appearance was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1999. He also starred in Dwight Yoakam's Western film South of Heaven, West of Hell. In 2001, Reubens hosted the short-lived ABC game show You Don't Know Jack. It was based on a video game series. The show was canceled after six episodes due to low ratings.

Reubens acted in Ted Demme's 2001 drama Blow. It starred Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp. His performance was praised. He then started getting more movie roles.

More Appearances and Voice Roles (2004–2008)

Reubens made many small appearances and guest roles. He played Rick on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. This led to a small role in the 2007 movie Reno 911!: Miami. That same year, he appeared in a music video for The Raconteurs song "Steady, As She Goes". In the video, Reubens played a bad guy who sabotaged a soapbox car race.

In 2007, Reubens was honored at the SF Sketchfest. He talked about his career there. He also signed with NBC to make a pilot for a show called Area 57. It was a comedy about an alien. However, the show was not picked up. Reubens did appear on the NBC series 30 Rock. He played a prince. He also made three guest appearances on FX's series Dirt. The show's star, Courteney Cox, recommended him for the role. Cox's husband, David Arquette, then cast Reubens in his 2007 film The Tripper.

Reubens also had small voice roles in several Cartoon Network projects. These included the 2006 TV film Re-Animated and the cartoon series Chowder.

In 2008, Reubens played Oscar Vibenius in two episodes of Pushing Daisies.

Also in 2008, Reubens made a PSA for Unscrew America. This website encourages people to use energy-efficient light bulbs. He also appeared in Todd Solondz's film Life During Wartime.

In 2009, Reubens voiced Bat-Mite in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Legends of the Dark Mite".

The Return of Pee-wee Herman (2009–2023)

In January 2009, Reubens hinted that his stage show might return. In August, the return of The Pee-wee Herman Show was announced. Reubens said he felt Pee-wee calling him back. He wanted to "introduce Pee-wee to the new generation." This also prepared the way for his main project, a Playhouse movie.

The show was first planned for November 2009 in Hollywood. Because of high demand, it moved to Club Nokia @ LA Live. It ran from January 12 to February 7, 2010. To promote the show, Reubens gave interviews as Pee-wee again. He appeared on The Jay Leno Show and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. New social media accounts were also made for Pee-wee.

On November 11, 2010, the show moved to New York for a limited run. It sold over $3 million in advance tickets. An extra performance was filmed for HBO on January 6, 2011. It debuted on March 19.

From 2012 to 2013, Reubens voiced Pavel in the animated series Tron: Uprising.

Reubens also played his role as pilot droid Rex again in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This Star Wars-themed land opened at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2019. Reubens had first voiced Rex in the original Star Tours ride in 1987. In Galaxy's Edge, Rex became DJ R-3X, the DJ of a bar called Oga's Cantina.

Pee-wee's Big Holiday and Future Ideas

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

One script was called The Pee-wee Herman Story. Reubens described it as a "dark Pee-wee" or "adult Pee-wee" story. The plot involved Pee-wee becoming a famous singer in Hollywood. Reubens thought this script would be filmed first.

The second film was a family-friendly adventure. Reubens called it Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Movie. It would follow Pee-wee and his Playhouse friends on a road trip. They would leave the house for the first time and go into "Puppetland." All the original characters, both live-action and puppets, were in Reubens's script. The story would take place in a fantasy land.

In January 2009, Reubens said the first script for Pee-wee's Big Adventure might get a movie deal soon. In December 2009, as Pee-wee, Reubens said this film was "already done" and "ready to shoot." Most of the film would take place in Puppetland.

Reubens mentioned that one of the two films would open in prison. He also said that using CGI might be an option to update the puppets' looks. This would depend on the film's budget. Reubens once thought about making one of the films animated. It could be like The Polar Express, which uses performance capture technology.

Reubens talked to Pee-wee's Big Adventure director Tim Burton about one of the scripts. He also spoke to Johnny Depp about playing Pee-wee. But Burton was too busy, and Depp needed time to think about it.

In January 2010, Reubens played Pee-wee again for a short sketch on Funny or Die. Pee-wee came home and showed off a new iPad. This led to a funny argument with his puppet friends. They pointed out all the iPad's problems. In the end, Pee-wee used the iPad as a serving tray.

In June 2010, news sites reported that Paul Reubens was working with Judd Apatow on a new Pee-wee Herman movie.

In February 2015, Netflix bought the rights to make a new Pee-wee film. It was called Pee-wee's Big Holiday. Apatow and Reubens produced the film. John Lee directed it. Reubens and Paul Rust wrote the script. The film was released on March 18, 2016, on Netflix. It received good reviews. This was his final film role.

Pee-wee Herman's Lasting Impact

Reubens did not always think of Pee-wee as a character for children. But by the mid-1980s, he became very careful about what Pee-wee was linked to. He avoided being photographed with a cigarette. He even refused to support candy bars. He tried to release his own sugar-free cereal, "Ralston Purina Pee-wee Chow cereal," but it didn't happen.

Peewee250
Reubens in 1985 receiving Harvard Lampoon's Elmer Award for lifetime achievement in comedy

Pee-wee received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by 1989. He built a successful Pee-wee brand. This included toys, clothes, and other items. At its peak in 1988, it made over $25 million. Reubens also published a book as Pee-wee in 1989 called Travels with Pee-Wee.

CBS aired reruns of Playhouse until July 1991. Fox Family Channel briefly aired reruns in 1998. In July 2006, Cartoon Network started showing promos for Playhouse on its Adult Swim lineup. The show's 45 original episodes aired nightly. Playhouse attracted 1.5 million viewers each night. In 2007, TV Guide named Playhouse one of the top 10 TV cult classics ever. Many children's TV creators say Pee-wee Herman inspired them. These include Blue's Clues' Steve Burns and SpongeBob SquarePants' Stephen Hillenburg.

In November 2004, all 45 episodes of Playhouse were released on DVD. This included six episodes never before released on home video. On July 3, 2013, Shout! Factory announced they had the rights to the series. It was released on Blu-ray on October 21, 2014. The entire series was digitally improved from the original film.

Pee-wee's small glen plaid suits seemed unusual in the 1980s. But since the late 1990s, they have made him a "style icon." Fashion designers like Christopher Bailey and Thom Browne have created similar tight-fitting suits. In early 2007, Nike released "Fallen Heroes" sneakers. This collection was inspired by figures like Pee-wee Herman.

Reubens discussed plans for a museum. It would contain many of the Playhouse sets and props he owned.

Paul Reubens' Passing

Paul Reubens passed away from cancer on July 30, 2023. He was 70 years old. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had been diagnosed with cancer six years earlier. However, he had kept his diagnosis private from the public.

Paul Reubens' Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Pray TV Jack Chudnowski
Midnight Madness Pinball City Proprietor
The Blues Brothers Chez Paul waiter
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie Pee-wee Herman/Desk Clerk
1981 Nice Dreams Howie Hamburger Dude
Dream On!
1982 Pandemonium Johnson
1984 Meatballs Part II Albert / Hara Krishna
1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure Pee-wee Herman Also writer
1986 Flight of the Navigator Trimaxion/Max (voice) Credited as Paul Mall
1987 Back to the Beach Pee-wee Herman
1988 Big Top Pee-wee Also writer and producer
1992 Batman Returns Penguin's Father
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Amilyn
1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas Lock (voice)
1996 Dunston Checks In Buck LaFarge
Matilda FBI Agent Bob
1997 Buddy Professor Spatz
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Fife (voice) Direct to video
1998 Dr. Dolittle Raccoon (voice)
1999 Mystery Men The Spleen
2000 South of Heaven, West of Hell Arvid Henry
2001 Blow Derek Foreal
2004 Teacher's Pet Dennis (voice)
2006 The Tripper Frank Baker
2007 Reno 911!: Miami Sir Terrence Benedino
2009 Life During Wartime Andy
2011 The Smurfs Jokey Smurf (voice)
2013 The Smurfs 2
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure Screwy Squirrel (voice) Direct-to-video
Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace Irv (voice)
2015 Accidental Love Edwin
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Pee-wee Herman Also writer and producer (final film role)

Television Shows

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Things We Did Last Summer Paul Oberon Television special
1979 Working Stiffs Heimlich 2 episodes
1980 The Flintstone Comedy Show Freaky Frankenstone (voice) Episode: "RV Fever/Birthday Boy/Clownfoot/Fred Goes Ape/Flying Mouse/Ghost-sitters"
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty Various roles Television special
Steve Martin: All Commercials
1981 Mork & Mindy Dickie Nimitz Episode: "Long Before We Met"
The Pee-wee Herman Show Pee-wee Herman Television special
1982 Madame's Place Episode: "#1.34"
1984 Faerie Tale Theatre Pinocchio Episode: "Pinocchio"
Cheeseball Presents Pee-wee Herman TV movie
1985 Saturday Night Live Pee-wee Herman (host) Episode: "Pee-wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band"
1986–1990 Pee-wee's Playhouse Pee-wee Herman 45 episodes; also creator, writer, director, executive producer and set decorator
1987 227 Episode: "Toyland"
1988 Sesame Street Episode: "Put Down the Duckie"
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special Television special; also writer, director and executive producer
1990 The Arsenio Hall Show
1995–1997 Murphy Brown Andrew J. Lansing III 6 episodes
2000 Everybody Loves Raymond Russell Episode: "Hackidu"
2001 You Don't Know Jack Troy Stevens 6 episodes
Ally McBeal Louis Episode: "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade"
2002 Rugrats Hermie the Elf (voice) Episode: "Babies in Toyland"
The Groovenians Jet (voice) Pilot
2005 Tripping the Rift God / Devil (voices) Episode: "Chode's Near Death-Experience"
2006 Campus Ladies Drama instructor Episode: "Drama Class"
Reno 911! Rick Episode: "Rick's On It"
Tom Goes to the Mayor Paul (voice) Episode: "Puddins"
Re-Animated Golly Gopher (voice) Pilot
2007 Area 57 Alien Pilot
30 Rock Gerhardt Hapsburg Episode: "Black Tie"
Dirt Chuck Lafoon 3 episodes
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! The Moon Episode: "Cats"
Pushing Daisies Oscar Vibenius 2 episodes
2007–2009 Chowder Reuben (voice) 3 episodes
2009–2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Bat-Mite (voice) 4 episodes
2010 Adventure Time Gnome Ruler (voice) Episode: "Power Animal"
WWE Raw Pee-wee Herman 1 episode; special guest
2011 The Pee-wee Herman Show Pee-wee Herman Television special
N/A Soul Quest Overdrive Tiger Jesus Unaired pilot
2012–2013 Tron: Uprising Pavel (voice) 17 episodes
2012–2015 Robot Chicken The Riddler / Sunbather (voices) 3 episodes
2013 Comedy Bang! Bang! Pee-wee Herman Episode: "Pee Wee Herman Wears a Halloween Costume"
2014 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness Ju-Long (voice) Episode: "The Hunger Game"
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Martin Milton/Sir Malachi (voice) Episode: "Mazes and Mutants"
Sanjay and Craig Benji Warlin (voice) Episode: "Googas"
Star Wars Rebels RX-24 (voice) Episode: "Droids in Distress"
Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered Bat-Mite (voice) Television special
Phineas and Ferb Professor Parenthesis (voice) Episode: "The O.W.C.A. Files"
2014 & 2016 American Dad! Wyatt Borden (voice) Episode: "Blagsnarst, a Love Story"
2014–2015 The Blacklist Mr. Vargas 5 episodes
2015 Portlandia Weirdoes' Lawyer Episode: "Dead Pets"
Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Todd Principal/PAL (voice) Episode: "The Fresh Principal of Norrisville High"
2015–2016 Pickle and Peanut Couch Dracula (voice) 2 episodes
2015–2017 Gotham Elijah Van Dahl 3 episodes
2015 & 2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero The Milk Man/The Butterman (voice) 3 Episodes
2017–2018 Voltron: Legendary Defender Unliu Swap Shop Owner (voice) 3 Episodes
2018 Mosaic JC Schiffer 7 episodes
2018–2019 Legends of Tomorrow Dybbuk (voice) 5 episodes
2019 What We Do in the Shadows Paul Episode: "The Trial"
The Conners Sandy Bitensky Episode: "Lanford, Toilet of Sin"
2023 Bob's Burgers Pat (voice) Episode: "Amelia" (final television role)

Video Games

Year Title Voice role
2004 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge Lock
2010 Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame Bat-Mite
2015 Minecraft: Story Mode Ivor
2016 Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Willard Wyler
2017 Wilson's Heart Boris
Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2 Ivor

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Paul Reubens para niños

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