Paul Reubens, best known for playing perpetual man-child Pee Wee Herman, has passed away at the age of 70, as revealed by his publicist.
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” a post on Reubens’ social media reads. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Reubens kept his cancer battle a secret as explained by a posthumous post on social media: “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. 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.”
Reubens rocketed to fame in 1985 with the Tim Burton directed comedy “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”, based on a character created during his time with the comedic troupe “The Groundlings”. The film, co-written by Reubens and friend Phil Hartman, saw commercial and critical acclaim that led to even greater levels of success with the CBS children’s program “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” that ran from 1986-1991.
