Paul Reubens, known for his portrayal of Pee-wee Herman, has passed away at the age of 70 after a long battle with cancer, according to a post on his Instagram account. The post described Reubens as a talented and prolific actor who will be remembered as a cherished friend with remarkable character and generosity of spirit. Before his death, Reubens apologized to his fans for not publicly sharing his six-year struggle with cancer, expressing his love and gratitude for their support.
Reubens’ career faced a setback in 1991 when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater. He pleaded no contest and completed 75 hours of community service. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to possessing obscene material in Los Angeles, receiving three years of probation. Prosecutors dropped a charge of possessing child pornography, with Reubens maintaining that the controversial pictures were part of his art collection.
Born as Paul Rubensfeld in Peekskill, New York in 1952, Reubens began his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor in the 1970s. He joined The Groundlings, a Los Angeles troupe, and gained recognition for his role in the popular stage show “The Pee-wee Herman Show” in 1982. This led to the debut of the Saturday morning television show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” in 1986, which launched Reubens’ career and included two feature films.
Reubens’ unique body language, facial expressions, and delivery of lines provided fans with tongue-in-cheek moral lessons and off-the-wall satire. “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” was set in Pee-wee’s whimsical playhouse, filled with puppeteers dressed as talking objects, such as his beloved armchair Chairy and the lively sunflowers on the windowsill, along with other eccentric characters.
The article was reported by Brendan O’Brien in Chicago and edited by Lisa Shumaker, adhering to The Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.
