Paul Reubens, the actor known for bringing his Pee-wee Herman character to life and delighting millions of children around the world on the TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse and films like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure died on Sunday (July 30) at the age of 70. In a post uploaded to social media, he admitted that he’d been privately suffering from a form of cancer over the last six years, and chose to keep his diagnosis from the public.
The news of Reubens’ death was made public today by the official social media pages of Pee-wee Herman.
“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,” reads the statement. “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’ estate is accurate with that summation of his effects on an entire generation of children. For lots of folks, Pee-wee is synonymous with a certain kind of ’80s childhood: he was a central component of that era’s look and feel. Your average episode of Pee-wee’s Playhouse was an aesthetic delight, purpose-built to entertain any viewer.
Yet Reubens was more than just Pee-wee: he collaborated with Tim Burton (after the pair worked on Pee-wee’s Big Adventure together) on projects like Batman Returns and The Nightmare Before Christmas; appeared in films such as Ted Demme’s Blow and Todd Solonz’s Life During Wartime, television shows like Steven Soderbergh’s Mosaic, and had an extensive career as a voice actor.
Reubens has requested that “any expressions of sympathy” be made in honor of his late parents to Stand Up to Cancer, or other organizations involved in support or research for dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
Reubens also relayed a personal statement, which reads: “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.”
He will be dearly missed.