Today, there is sad news from the entertainment business:
Paul Reubens, an experienced actor who will always be remembered for creating and playing Pee-wee Herman, died of cancer.
He had turned 70.
On March 25, 2016, Paul Reubens went to the AOL Build Speaker Series in New York to discuss “Pee-Big Wee’s Holiday.” (Getty). “Last night, we said goodbye to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor,“Paul fought cancer for years in private and with courage, using his trademark tenacity and wit.
“He had a lot of talent and did many funny things. He will always be in the pantheon of comedy and our hearts as a dear friend and a man of great character and generosity of spirit.”
On March 17, 2016, Paul Reubens went to the Paramount Theatre to see the “Pee-Big Wee’s Holiday” premiere as part of the 2016 SXSW Music, Film, and Interactive Festival. (Getty)With hit movies like Pee-Big Wee’s Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee, and Pee-Playhouse, Wee kept winning people over.
On the same Instagram slideshow where the above statement was posted was a photo of Reubens as Herman and an apology from the actor for keeping his cancer diagnosis secret for the past few years.
“Please forgive me for not telling you what I’ve been going through for the past six years,” the message said.
“My friends, fans, and supporters have always shown me much love and respect.
“I loved you all so much, and it was fun to make art for you.”
At the end of the post, Reubens asked that any “expressions of sympathy” be sent to Stand Up to Cancer or any organization that helps people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Paul Reubens participates in a “Town Hall” with Dalton Ross and SiriusXM on March 23, 2016, at the SiriusXM Studios. (Getty)During its run, the show won 22 Emmy Awards. Reubens himself was nominated for an impressive 14 Emmy Awards.
He ended up winning the honor twice.
“If someone had told me 30 years ago that I’d still be doing this, I’d have laughed,” he told Collider in 2015. “But now I plan to do it when I’m 140, 30 years from now.”
Paul Reubens shows up. At SXSW on March 17, 2016, in Austin, Texas, Netflix showed the world premiere of “Pee-Big Wee’s Holiday.” (Getty)In 1991, Reubens was arrested for exposing himself in a movie theater in Florida. He later said he wasn’t guilty.
In 2004, Reubens pleaded guilty to a “misdemeanor obscenity charge” that involved photos of children having sexual relations.
He had to go on probation for three years.
We’re sorry for Paul Reubens’s friends, family, and others who cared about him. May he sleep peacefully?