Paul Reubens
American actor and comedian (1952–2023)
Paul Reubens (born Paul Rubenfeld; August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was a Jewish American actor, writer, movie producer, game show host, and comedian, best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman. He was of Jewish descent.[1] He appeared in many movies and television series in the late 1970s and early 1980s and worked with a group called "The Groundlings". Around this time, Reubens created Pee-Wee for a stage show, which was a parody of old kids programs. In 1985, he starred in a movie called Pee-wee's Big Adventure, which was very successful. The next year, he got his own television program, Pee-wee's Playhouse. It was very popular.
Paul Reubens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Paul Rubenfeld August 27, 1952 |
| Died | July 30, 2023 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Respiratory failure caused by acute myeloid leukemia and lung cancer |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Education | Boston University California Institute of the Arts (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1977–2023 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Abby Rubenfeld (sister) |
| Website | peewee |
Early life
changeHe was born in Peekskill, New York and grew up in Sarasota, Florida.
Personal life
changeIn 1991, Reubens was arrested for masturbating in an adult movie theatre. This ended the Pee-Wee craze.
In 2010, he had the main role in a play on Broadway, in The Pee-wee Herman Show. In 2016, Reubens co-wrote and had the main role in the Netflix original film Pee-wee's Big Holiday, in the role as Pee-wee Herman.[2]
Death
changeReubens died from cancer at age 70 on July 30, 2023 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.[3][4] The cause of death was respiratory failure caused by acute myeloid leukemia and lung cancer.[5] His remains were cremated and are buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[5]
Filmography
changeMovies
change| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Pray TV | Jack Chudnowski | |
| 1980 | Midnight Madness | Pinball City Proprietor | |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Chez Paul waiter | |
| 1980 | Cheech & Chong's Next Movie | Pee-wee Herman/Desk Clerk | |
| 1981 | Nice Dreams | Howie Hamburger Dude | |
| 1981 | Dream On! | ||
| 1982 | Pandemonium | Johnson | |
| 1984 | Meatballs Part II | Albert/Hara Krishna | |
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big Adventure | Pee-wee Herman | Also writer |
| 1986 | Flight of the Navigator | Trimaxion/Max | Voice - Credited as Paul Mall |
| 1987 | Back to the Beach | Pee-wee Herman | |
| 1988 | Big Top Pee-wee | Pee-wee Herman | Also writer and producer Nominated - Kid's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Penguin's Father | |
| 1992 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Amilyn | |
| 1993 | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Lock | Voice |
| 1996 | Dunston Checks In | Buck LaFarge | |
| 1996 | Matilda | FBI Agent Bob | |
| 1997 | Buddy | Professor Spatz | |
| 1997 | Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas | Fife | Voice Direct-to-video |
| 1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Raccoon | Voice |
| 1999 | Mystery Men | The Spleen | |
| 2000 | South of Heaven, West of Hell | Arvid Henry | |
| 2001 | Blow | Derek Foreal | |
| 2004 | Teacher's Pet | Dennis | Voice |
| 2006 | The Tripper | Frank Baker | |
| 2007 | Reno 911!: Miami | Sir Terrence Benedino | |
| 2009 | Life During Wartime | Andy | |
| 2011 | The Smurfs | Jokey Smurf | Voice |
| 2013 | The Smurfs 2 | Jokey Smurf | Voice |
| 2013 | Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure | Screwy Squirrel | Voice Direct-to-video |
Television
change| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Things We Did Last Summer | Paul Oberon | TV Movie |
| 1979 | Working Stiffs | Heimlich | 3 episodes |
| 1980 | The Flintstone Comedy Hour | Freaky Frankenstone | Voice Episode: "RV Fever/Birthday Boy/Clownfoot/Fred Goes Ape/Flying Mouse/Ghost-sitters" |
| 1980 | Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty | Unnamed Terrorist | Reubens played an unnamed terrorist that shoplifted nuclear weapons fuel from a convenience store in a skit in this Steve Martin comedy special. |
| 1980 | Steve Martin: All Commercials | Multiple Roles | Reubens played multiple roles in multiple skits in this Steve Martin comedy special. |
| 1981 | Mork & Mindy | Dickie Nimitz | Episode: "Long Before We Met" |
| 1981 | The Pee-wee Herman Show | Pee-wee Herman | TV Movie |
| 1982 | Madame's Place | Pee-Wee Herman | Episode: "Episode #1.34" |
| 1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Pinocchio | Episode: "Pinocchio" |
| 1985 | Saturday Night Live | Pee-wee Herman | Host Episode: "Pee-wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band" |
| 1986–1990 | Pee-wee's Playhouse | Pee-wee Herman | Creator, writer, director of 3 episodes Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design (1988) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graphics and Title Design (1991) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series (1987, 1990, 1991) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in Children's Programming (1988, 1990, 1991) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design (1989, 1990, 1991) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series (1987, 1988) |
| 1988 | Sesame Street | Pee-wee Herman | Episode:"Put Down the Duckie" |
| 1995–1997 | Murphy Brown | Andrew J. Lansing III | 6 episodes Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (1995) |
| 2000 | Everyone Loves Raymond | Russell | Episode: "Hackidu" |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Louis | Episode: "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade" |
| 2002 | Rugrats | Hermie the Elf | Voice Episode: "Babies in Toyland" |
| 2005 | Tripping the Rift | God Devil |
Voice Episode: "Chode's Near Death-Experience" |
| 2006 | Campus Ladies | Drama instructor | Episode: "Drama Class" |
| 2006 | Reno 911! | Rick | Episode: "Rick's On It" |
| 2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Paul | Voice Episode: "Puddins" |
| 2006 | Re-Animated | Golly Gopher | Voice TV Movie |
| 2007 | Area 57 | Alien | Unaired pilot |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Gerhardt Hapsburg | Episode: "Black Tie" |
| 2007 | Dirt | Chuck Lafoon | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | The Moon | Episode: "Cats" |
| 2007-2009 | Chowder | Reuben | Voice 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Pushing Daisies | Oscar Vibenius | 2 episodes |
| 2009-2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Bat-Mite | Voice 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Adventure Time | Gnome Ruler | Voice Episode: "Power Animal" |
| 2011 | The Pee-wee Herman Show | Pee-wee Herman | TV Movie Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special |
| 2012–2013 | Tron: Uprising | Pavel | Voice 17 episodes |
| 2012 | Robot Chicken DC Comics Special | The Riddler | Voice TV Movie |
| 2013 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Pee-wee Herman | Episode: "Pee Wee Herman Wears a Halloween Costume" |
Video games
change| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge | Lock |
| 2010 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame | Bat-Mite |
References
change- ↑ www.accessmylibrary.com
- ↑ Keegan, Rebecca (March 17, 2016). "'Pee-wee's Big Holiday' takes some wrong turns". Retrieved August 11, 2017 – via LA Times.
- ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (July 31, 2023). "Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman Actor, Dies at 70 After Private Bout of Cancer". Variety. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ↑ Jiménez, Jesus (July 31, 2023). "Paul Reubens, Creator of Pee-wee Herman, Is Dead at 70". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Paul Reubens’ Cause Of Death Confirmed
Other websites
change
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Paul Reubens
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Reubens.