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Paul Reubens
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<p>Paul Reubens was an American actor and comedian, widely known for creating and portraying the character <a href="/facts/Pee-wee_Herman/qmsEQCfx">Pee-wee Herman</a>. </p><p>Born in <a href="/facts/Peekskill%2c_New_York/e13JW3DW">Peekskill, New York</a> and raised in both <a href="/facts/Oneonta%2c_New_York/IasXKrGU">Oneonta, New York</a> and <a href="/facts/Sarasota%2c_Florida/BYN6AQBx">Sarasota, Florida</a>, Reubens joined the <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles/pyXpYEX9">Los Angeles</a>-based troupe <a href="/facts/The_Groundlings/IvRh6wVl">the Groundlings</a> in the 1970s and started his career as an <a href="/facts/Improvisational_theatre/rUdPhRjJ">improvisational comedian</a> and stage actor. Reubens developed his Pee-wee character at the Groundlings. After a failed audition for <i><a href="/facts/Saturday_Night_Live/LM8etPx8">Saturday Night Live</a></i>, Reubens debuted a stage show starring Pee-wee, <i><a href="/facts/The_Pee-wee_Herman_Show/IdlPBj6u">The Pee-wee Herman Show</a></i>, in 1981. Pee-wee quickly became a cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens completely committed to his character, conducting all public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. He produced and wrote a feature film, <i><a href="/facts/Pee-wee%2527s_Big_Adventure/wssBCaLl">Pee-wee's Big Adventure</a></i> (1985), directed by <a href="/facts/Tim_Burton/QTYQ25Bt">Tim Burton</a>, which was a financial and critical success. Its sequel, <i><a href="/facts/Big_Top_Pee-wee/N7TxHvcx">Big Top Pee-wee</a></i> (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the <a href="/facts/CBS/BhMsVoej">CBS</a> Saturday-morning children's program <i><a href="/facts/Pee-wee%2527s_Playhouse/4Gfe9C6R">Pee-wee's Playhouse</a></i>. </p><p>Reubens was arrested for <a href="/facts/Indecent_exposure/CFMeXyrh">indecent exposure</a> in an <a href="/facts/Adult_theater/v8x9poQv">adult theater</a> in Sarasota in 1991. The arrest set off a chain reaction of national media attention, though he received support from people in the entertainment industry. The arrest postponed Reubens's involvement in major projects until 1999, when he appeared in several big-budget projects including <i><a href="/facts/Mystery_Men/X3u9zd2e">Mystery Men</a></i> (1999) and <i><a href="/facts/Blow_(film)/nt9oSqSv">Blow</a></i> (2001). Reubens subsequently started giving interviews as himself rather than as Pee-wee. </p><p>Reubens acted in numerous shows such as <i><a href="/facts/Murphy_Brown/1rg5SpXa">Murphy Brown</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/30_Rock_(TV_series)/vj32gLns">30 Rock</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Portlandia/5mMtUCXC">Portlandia</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/The_Blacklist_(TV_series)/dNTJcFjp">The Blacklist</a></i>. He revived <i>The Pee-wee Herman Show</i>, which he performed in Los Angeles and on Broadway, in 2010. He co-wrote and starred in the <a href="/facts/Netflix/TKtlFVY9">Netflix</a> original film <i><a href="/facts/Pee-wee%2527s_Big_Holiday/5osG1g3z">Pee-wee's Big Holiday</a></i>, reprising his role as Pee-wee Herman, in 2016. </p><p>Reubens's Pee-wee character maintained an enduring popularity with both children and adults. <i>Playhouse</i> garnered 15 <a href="/facts/Emmy_Awards/M6GvMDJc">Emmy Awards</a> during its initial run, and was aired again on late-night television in the 2000s, during which <i><a href="/facts/TV_Guide/T29FpwBp">TV Guide</a></i> dubbed it among the top ten cult classic television programs. Reubens died in July 2023 from cancer. </p>