Born Paul Rubenfeld in Peekskill, New York, on Aug. 27, 1952, and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Reubens seemed destined for a life in the performing arts from a young age.
“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 reps said in a statement to The Post.
The cause of death was cancer, according to the statement.
“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.”
A post to his official Instagram account included a quote from Reubens directly to be shared with his fans after his passing: “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.”
Reubens teamed up with Tim Burton for the 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” for the character’s feature film debut.
The creator and star of the subversive 1986 to 1990 TV series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” revisited his iconic, giddy character on occasion over the years, including Broadway’s “The Pee-wee Herman Show” in 2010 and the 2016 Netflix movie “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.”
“Pee-wee’s Playhouse” ran for four years and earned 15 Emmy awards in its time, while Reubens himself has been nominated for 14 Emmys and won two. His star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame was awarded in 1988.
Reubens requested that any donations made in support and sympathy be made in honor of his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, to Stand Up to Cancer or other organizations supporting dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Credit: New York Post