Actor and comedian Paul Reubens, best known for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, has died aged 70. Reubens had been battling cancer for six years.
Reubens played the Pee-wee character, created when he worked in the improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s, in the five season long television series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and three subsequent films.
Reubens’ career was somewhat derailed when he was arrested for indecent exposure in an adult movie theatre in Florida in 1991, which sent the actor into entertainment exile for years.
However he did have roles in a number of films and series. He was the voice of the ship in “Flight of the Navigator” and Lock in “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” along with key roles in “Batman Returns,” the original “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” film, “Matilda,” “Blow,” “The Smurfs,” “Reno 911: Miami,” “Mystery Men” and countless TV appearances.
Reubens said in a statement released on Monday with the announcement of his death: “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.”
Tim Burton, who directed Reubens in the first Pee-Wee Herman film, said in an Instagram post: “Shocked and saddened. I’ll never forget how Paul helped me at the beginning of my career. It would not have happened without his support. He was a great artist. I’ll miss him.”
Source: ABC Australia
