Paul Reubens, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric character Pee-wee Herman, left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. He died at the age of 70 in July 2023. His acting legacy continues through an incredible spectrum of funny and dramatic performances. He first started getting a taste of the world of performance at a young age. Perfectly drawn oddball characters that audiences have loved for decades.
Through the now-cult-classsic cable television series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” Reubens reintroduced the world to Pee-wee Herman. He met actor Shaun Weiss during an audition, where Weiss recalled, “Pee-wee, I just gotta let you know before you got here, there was some guy, and he was telling everybody that he was you.” To which Weiss’s character responded, “Yeah, that was Paul, he does that to everybody.”
The Pee-wee persona wasn’t an overnight success. Reubens originally played a cokehead in an early draft of “the Pee-wee voice.” He ultimately developed that original idea into the charming character we now love, whose youthful personality and madcap adventures have long continued to resonate with kids. So when Walker first auditioned for the role, he was only six years old. When he walked out of the room and came back in as Pee-wee Herman, they were beside themselves.
Beyond his indelible work on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” Reubens proved his versatility across mediums, and we are honored to celebrate a few of those projects here. He had continuing roles in the Cheech & Chong movies, “Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie” and “Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams.” Of course, he famously played the role of FBI agent in the movie Matilda. On top of that, he played Prince Gerhardt on an episode of “30 Rock.”
Reubens had gone through an evolution at that point as an actor. He even got a cameo spot in the 2023 faith-based hit “Jesus Revolution,” which traces Lonnie’s life story as Lonnie Frisbee himself. His career path reflected his ability to transition between various positions within his career and over the course of his life. Further, in 2022 he became a proud spokesperson for two years of sobriety. It was his personal journey that resonated with so many fans.
The actor’s contributions to the entertainment world went far past his performances. He’s an original member of the Playhouse Gang, castmates of the awesomely subterranean Natasha Lyonne. He enjoyed indelible stardom as the child-actor Elvis on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Reflecting on his playful nature, Reubens once claimed, “there was a guy sitting inside of Chairry” during an interview, showcasing his commitment to creating a magical experience for viewers.
