Paul Reubens, the revered comedian/actor/writer behind the beloved Pee-wee Herman character, has died. The Pee-wee's Playhouse and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure star was 70.
Per a statement released on Monday by his estate, Reubens had been battling cancer for the past six years.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens said in a posthumously released statement. “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.”
The statement also pointed those with the means to do so to consider donating to Stand Up to Cancer and/or to organizations involved with the furthering of dementia and Alzheimer’s research.
The first major appearance of the Pee-wee character was in the stage production The Pee-wee Herman Show, a performance of which was filmed and turned into a special in 1981. From there, the character—brought to life in a creative feat Reubens treated as full-fledged performance art—was seen in the films Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee, and Pee-wee's Big Holiday.
The five-season Pee-wee's Playhouse, meanwhile, further cemented the character's place in the hearts of fans of all ages. In the process, it also garnered consistent acclaim, including 15 Emmy wins.
But this is far from the extent of Reubens’ legacy. In 1999, for example, he appeared in the star-stacked amateur superhero comedy Mystery Men, helmed by Kinka Usher. In it, Reubens portrayed a hero known as The Spleen, whose power was directly related to the organ from which he drew his name. The Ben Stiller-led film, though not to the extent of Pee-wee, has achieved a cult status in recent years.
“RIP Legend” trended after news of Reubens’ passing, with fans sharing their favorite memories from the artist’s catalog of incomparable work.
Rest in power.
