Paul Reubens August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023
Pee-wee Herman entered my life when I was around eight-years-old. Between his first two movies and the long running “Pee-wee’s Playhouse”, he brought me a lot of joy. The coolest part about Pee-wee was that my father enjoyed watching him along with me.
I had Pee-wee toys including the action figure, Chairry, Globey, and Pterri. I still have an unopened Pee-wee with a scooter that I’ll have to dig up. Maybe now is the right time to sell it.
Unfortunate Situation
Everyone knows what happened in 1991. He was allegedly caught doing something a kid’s show host should not have been doing in public. By then, Pee-wee Herman was a household name, unfortunately not many mothers wanted him in their households anymore.
Paul Reubens Perseveres
The early 1990s were a tough period for Reubens, not many studio executives wanted much to do with him. Eventually, the Pee-wee peep show jokes faded away and he began to work again. By 1995 he appeared alongside Batman, Buffy, Matilda, Jack Skellington, Dunston and Murphy Brown.
His hard work and talent put him back on the map and while he knew he’d never be a household name again, he just wanted to act.
Notable Roles
I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the career of a man who will be missed by many. Everyone knows Pee-wee Herman, but how many of you know the rest of his work?
The Eighties
Early on in his career, he was performing live as the character Pee-wee when he got noticed and began his career in movies and television. He worked alongside legends like ‘The Blues Brothers’ and ‘Cheech & Chong’.
As the decade rolled on, he got more bit parts in various comedies but also got the chance to work alongside Robin Williams on Mork and Mindy.
Pee-wee Goes Worldwide
After two hit movies and a popular kid’s television show, Paul Reubens was offered a part in an episode of ‘227’.
The hit television show helped launch the careers of many big names in Hollywood.
The Nineties and Beyond
As I mentioned earlier, after the “incident” Reubens stepped back from the spotlight but it wasn’t long before he was offered roles again. He played the Penguin’s father in Batman Returns, a role he’d revise more than twenty years later.
The late nineties saw him acting in two kid’s movies, ‘Dunston Checks In’ and ‘Matilda’. Then he went on to star in one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies, ‘Mystery Men’ along with Ben Stiller and William H. Macy.
Post-2000 Reubens secured a role alongside Johnny Depp in Blow while showing up on some of the biggest television shows of the time. He also reprised his role as The Penguin’s father in the show, ‘Gotham’.
Behind the Microphone
While not in front of the camera, Paul Reubens spent a great deal of time in the recording studio working on some of the biggest cartoons, movies and video games.
Rest in Peace, Paul Reubens
After a years-long battle with cancer, Pee-wee passed away at the age of 70. Gone way too soon, he will be missed. Thank you for visiting this post, if anyone asks, “Be sure and tell ’em Large Marge sent you.”
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