Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman (1952 - 2023) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-31-2023, 01:49 PM

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/p...an-1235683504/

Paul Reubens, the actor best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday night after a private bout of cancer. He was 70.

“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “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.”

“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,” wrote Reubens’ estate in the caption. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. 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.”

Reubens began his career in the 1970s after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe the Groundlings as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1980, he launched “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” a stage production centered on a fictional character he had been developing for years. As Pee-wee became a cult figure, Reubens’ show ran for five sold-out months, and he landed a special at HBO. Reubens also committed to the character in his interviews and public appearances.

In 1985, he teamed with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” the character’s feature film debut, which was a critical and commercial success. Reubens returned three years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-wee,” helmed by Randal Kleiser. The character transitioned to television from 1986 to 1990, on CBS’ weekend morning show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

Reubens’ image as a beloved childhood hero was tarnished when, in 1991, he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla. At the center of a national sex scandal, Reubens backed away from Pee-wee and began doing press as himself. He wouldn’t again reprise the iconic role until 2010, when he revived “The Pee-wee Herman Show” on Broadway and made several other appearances, on “WWE Raw” and in a couple of digital sketches for Funny or Die. In 2016, Reubens co-wrote and starred in Netflix’s “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” a sequel to 1988’s “Big Top,” which would serve as Reubens’ final film role before his death.

Throughout his career, Reubens starred in a variety of other projects as well, including Kinka Usher’s superhero comedy “Mystery Men” and Ted Demme’s biographical crime drama “Blow.” He also appeared in “Batman Returns,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Matilda,” and his television credits include “30 Rock,” “The Blacklist,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Hercules,” “Rugrats,” “Reno 911!” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”

In 2002, after turning himself in to the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department, Reubens was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material improperly depicting a child under the age of 18 in sexual conduct. A self-proclaimed collector of erotica, Reubens disagreed with the city’s classification of pornography. His child pornography charges were dropped in 2004 after he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor obscenity charge.

In an interview with NBC News’ Stone Phillips, Herman said in 2005: “One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don’t want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It’s not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I’m weird. They may think I’m crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That’s all fine. As long as one of the things you’re not thinking about me is that I’m a pedophile. Because that’s not true.”

Before his death, Reubens was developing two Pee-wee Herman projects, one a black comedy titled “The Pee-wee Herman Story” and the other a family adventure film called “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie.”

Alan Brady's Hair · 07-31-2023, 02:04 PM

He was a funny man. RIP.

PaperClips · 07-31-2023, 02:15 PM

I don't think anyone has come close to duplicating the opening to Pee Wee's Playhouse. Maybe the old Avengers.

dee2364 · 07-31-2023, 02:27 PM

He really got a raw deal, and I'm still bitter about it to this day. I remember how giddy Soupy Sales and everyone else was when the scandal broke out; they seemed so delighted that his career was ruined. People were so envious of his success, I guess, or maybe he knew where the bodies were buried. Who knows? But the scandal was the beginning of the end of Hollywood. I can't think of any comedian after him who matched his level of talent except for maybe Jim Carrey.

He was also the last of the great kid's show host. CBS tried with Weird Al Yankovic and Beakman's World, but it just wasn't the same.

I wonder if Laurence Fishburne will give any statement.

80sTrivia · 07-31-2023, 03:21 PM

I absolutely loved Peewee's Playhouse as a kid, one of my favorite Saturday morning programs, especially since some of the humor was aimed at adults! I also enjoyed his big screen films as well. He was an original, for certain, and will be sadly missed...

TVLegend · 07-31-2023, 06:54 PM

RIP.

TMC · 07-31-2023, 07:38 PM

Quote:

A short tribute to the man behind Pee-wee Herman. Thanks for the laughs.

TMC · 07-31-2023, 08:19 PM

Pee-Wee’s Playhouse's S. Epatha Merkerson remembers Paul Reubens: I was hired without knowing who Pee-wee Herman was.

DJM77 · 07-31-2023, 08:29 PM

Another piece of my childhood has died. Pee-wee's Big Adventure was my favorite movie for several years when I was a kid. Plus I never missed a chance to watch Pee-wee's Playhouse.

James28 · 07-31-2023, 11:16 PM

I really got into the Pee-Wee's Playhouse reruns on Adult Swim in the mid-2000s decade, and eventually on IFC around 2017. Too bad it disappeared from IFC after after a short while.

I thought Paul Reubens was one of the last people you'd expect to be on anyone's death pool anytime soon. Cancer will make anyone too good to last. I'm sorry Mr. Reubens won't turn 71 next month.

Hawkee · 08-01-2023, 01:17 AM

I remember watching Pee-Wee's Playhouse as a little girl and each time I watched an episode I would giggle and giggle like crazy because it was so funny and I knew that Pee-Wee Herman would be so funny. In addition to Pee-Wee's Playhouse he makes an appearence in the Cyndi Lauper song 911 from her 1986 album True Colors where he plays a telephone operator and in the Disney attraction Star Tours where he provided the voice of Captain Rex

rusty spike · 08-01-2023, 01:22 AM

May he rest in peace.

TMC · 08-01-2023, 02:45 AM

Paul Reubens showed us it was okay to be weird: Pee-wee Herman’s keen and welcoming sense of humor will be sorely missed

PaperClips · 08-01-2023, 02:17 PM

Fun Fact - Cyndi Lauper Sang the Opening Song but used an Alias and changed her voice slightly.

TMC · 08-01-2023, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaperClips

Fun Fact - Cyndi Lauper Sang the Opening Song but used an Alias and changed her voice slightly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvYYNDmxzjo/?img_index=1

Quote:

Paul and I had a special relationship, especially in the 80s. He was a nut and I just love that about him. We had the same some sort of sensibility. I know he went through some ups and downs, but he was a really good guy and I am sorry to hear of his passing and that he had gotten so sick. Hopefully he’s cracking jokes and shooting a few rounds on the big miniature golf course in the sky.

My friend @iamwandasykes posted earlier that he asked for donations to go to @su2c and dementia or Alzheimer related organizations focusing on care, support and research.

Give what you can. 🙏🕯️💔

07-31-2023, 01:49 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,344	Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman (1952 - 2023) https://variety.com/2023/film/news/p...an-1235683504/ Paul Reubens, the actor best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday night after a private bout of cancer. He was 70. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “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.” “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,” wrote Reubens’ estate in the caption. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. 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.” Reubens began his career in the 1970s after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe the Groundlings as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1980, he launched “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” a stage production centered on a fictional character he had been developing for years. As Pee-wee became a cult figure, Reubens’ show ran for five sold-out months, and he landed a special at HBO. Reubens also committed to the character in his interviews and public appearances. In 1985, he teamed with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” the character’s feature film debut, which was a critical and commercial success. Reubens returned three years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-wee,” helmed by Randal Kleiser. The character transitioned to television from 1986 to 1990, on CBS’ weekend morning show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” Reubens’ image as a beloved childhood hero was tarnished when, in 1991, he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla. At the center of a national sex scandal, Reubens backed away from Pee-wee and began doing press as himself. He wouldn’t again reprise the iconic role until 2010, when he revived “The Pee-wee Herman Show” on Broadway and made several other appearances, on “WWE Raw” and in a couple of digital sketches for Funny or Die. In 2016, Reubens co-wrote and starred in Netflix’s “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” a sequel to 1988’s “Big Top,” which would serve as Reubens’ final film role before his death. Throughout his career, Reubens starred in a variety of other projects as well, including Kinka Usher’s superhero comedy “Mystery Men” and Ted Demme’s biographical crime drama “Blow.” He also appeared in “Batman Returns,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Matilda,” and his television credits include “30 Rock,” “The Blacklist,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Hercules,” “Rugrats,” “Reno 911!” and “What We Do in the Shadows.” In 2002, after turning himself in to the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department, Reubens was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material improperly depicting a child under the age of 18 in sexual conduct. A self-proclaimed collector of erotica, Reubens disagreed with the city’s classification of pornography. His child pornography charges were dropped in 2004 after he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor obscenity charge. In an interview with NBC News’ Stone Phillips, Herman said in 2005: “One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don’t want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It’s not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I’m weird. They may think I’m crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That’s all fine. As long as one of the things you’re not thinking about me is that I’m a pedophile. Because that’s not true.” Before his death, Reubens was developing two Pee-wee Herman projects, one a black comedy titled “The Pee-wee Herman Story” and the other a family adventure film called “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie.”

07-31-2023, 03:21 PM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	I absolutely loved Peewee's Playhouse as a kid, one of my favorite Saturday morning programs, especially since some of the humor was aimed at adults! I also enjoyed his big screen films as well. He was an original, for certain, and will be sadly missed...
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

07-31-2023, 08:29 PM	#9
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,555	Another piece of my childhood has died. Pee-wee's Big Adventure was my favorite movie for several years when I was a kid. Plus I never missed a chance to watch Pee-wee's Playhouse.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

07-31-2023, 11:16 PM	#10
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,975	I really got into the Pee-Wee's Playhouse reruns on Adult Swim in the mid-2000s decade, and eventually on IFC around 2017. Too bad it disappeared from IFC after after a short while. I thought Paul Reubens was one of the last people you'd expect to be on anyone's death pool anytime soon. Cancer will make anyone too good to last. I'm sorry Mr. Reubens won't turn 71 next month.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

08-01-2023, 01:17 AM	#11
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,754	I remember watching Pee-Wee's Playhouse as a little girl and each time I watched an episode I would giggle and giggle like crazy because it was so funny and I knew that Pee-Wee Herman would be so funny. In addition to Pee-Wee's Playhouse he makes an appearence in the Cyndi Lauper song 911 from her 1986 album True Colors where he plays a telephone operator and in the Disney attraction Star Tours where he provided the voice of Captain Rex
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

07-31-2023, 02:04 PM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,822	He was a funny man. RIP.

07-31-2023, 02:15 PM	#3
PaperClips Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2021 Posts: 316	I don't think anyone has come close to duplicating the opening to Pee Wee's Playhouse. Maybe the old Avengers.

07-31-2023, 02:27 PM	#4
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	He really got a raw deal, and I'm still bitter about it to this day. I remember how giddy Soupy Sales and everyone else was when the scandal broke out; they seemed so delighted that his career was ruined. People were so envious of his success, I guess, or maybe he knew where the bodies were buried. Who knows? But the scandal was the beginning of the end of Hollywood. I can't think of any comedian after him who matched his level of talent except for maybe Jim Carrey. He was also the last of the great kid's show host. CBS tried with Weird Al Yankovic and Beakman's World, but it just wasn't the same. I wonder if Laurence Fishburne will give any statement.

07-31-2023, 06:54 PM	#6
TVLegend Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 06, 2020 Location: United States Posts: 4,306	RIP.

07-31-2023, 08:19 PM	#8
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,028	Pee-Wee’s Playhouse's S. Epatha Merkerson remembers Paul Reubens: I was hired without knowing who Pee-wee Herman was.

08-01-2023, 01:22 AM	#12
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	May he rest in peace.

08-01-2023, 02:45 AM	#13
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,028	Paul Reubens showed us it was okay to be weird: Pee-wee Herman’s keen and welcoming sense of humor will be sorely missed

08-01-2023, 02:17 PM	#14
PaperClips Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2021 Posts: 316	Fun Fact - Cyndi Lauper Sang the Opening Song but used an Alias and changed her voice slightly.