Paul Reubens, the comedic actor best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, died from cancer on Sunday night. He was 70.
In a statement posted on Instagram after his death, Reubens wrote, “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.”
His estate also wrote in the caption, saying that Pee-wee Herman believed in the “importance of kindness” and that he would live on forever as a “man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Reubens began his comedy career in the 1970s after joining the Groundlings, a live comedy troupe. In 1980, he started The Pee-wee Herman Show, which quickly gained a cult following. His character became iconic as a man-child with catchphrases like “I know you are, but what am I?” The stage production soon earned a special at HBO and a feature film debut entitled Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. After a sequel was released, the character became part of the CBS morning show Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
The actor made the decision to end the TV show shortly before he besmirched his image when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Florida. He drew intense media scrutiny, causing him to step away from playing Pee-wee.
In 2004, Reubens was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge centered around photographs of minors engaged in sexual conduct.
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But Reubens revived his career later on through appearances in films like Blow with Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp as well as TV shows like 30 Rock and Gotham.
He reprised his role as Pee-wee in 2010 when he relaunched the show on Broadway, and in 2016, he starred in Netflix’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, which was his last film role before his death. Below are some reactions honoring his life and career.
