Pee-wee Herman actor dies after secret health battle
The world is mourning the passing of Paul Reubens, the actor whose infectious humour as Pee-wee Herman brought smiles to millions. He has left us at the age of 70 after a prolonged and entirely secret battle with cancer.
A somber statement on his official Instagram account read, "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."
His battle with cancer finally took him away from us, a fact that he had been fighting privately and courageously for years.
"Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit," the tribute continued. "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."
Paul Reubens' journey began in the 1970s as an improv comedian and stage actor with the Groundlings troupe in Los Angeles. The character of Pee-wee Herman was born at The Groundlings Theatre in February 1981 and went on to become a sensation through the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
The subversive 1986 to 1990 Emmy-winning TV series Pee-wee’s Playhouse further solidified his status as a comedic icon, and he revisited the endearing Pee-wee character on various occasions over the years, including the 2016 Netflix movie Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.
In 2010, he brought Pee-wee to life on a live Broadway stage in The Pee-wee Herman Show, which garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special.
Beyond Pee-wee, Paul Reubens showcased his acting versatility with roles on TV shows like DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Gotham, and The Blacklist.
Amidst it all, there was a poignant revelation that Reubens had been considered for the iconic character of Roger Rabbit. Footage from the early 1980s surfaced, showing him voicing the role in an early version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
In his final message to his fans, Reubens conveyed: "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."
In a gesture of love for his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, Paul Reubens requested that any donations in his honour be made to Stand Up to Cancer or other organisations supporting dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Images: Instagram