Biography
Paul Reubens (August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor, writer, film producer, game show host, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1982 he began appearing in a show about a character he had been developing for years. The show, called The Pee-wee Herman Show, ran for five sold-out months, and HBO produced a successful special about it.
Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. His feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by the then-unknown Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success and soon developed into a cult film. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Filmography
Cast Credits
Pee-wee as Himself
Character: Self
TV • 2025
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
Character: Pee Wee Herman
TV • 2025
The World According to Allee Willis
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2024
DEVO
Character: Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2024
Quiz Lady
Character: Francine's Crush
MOVIE • 2023
The Crown with a Shadow
Character: Oliver (voice)
MOVIE • 2021
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Character: Self - Contestant
TV • 2021
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Character: Self (archive footage)
TV • 2020
What We Do in the Shadows
Character: Paul
TV • 2019
Minecraft: Story Mode
Character: Ivor (voice)
TV • 2018
The Conners
Character: Sandy Bitensky
TV • 2018
Mosaic
Character: JC Schiffer
TV • 2018
To Tell the Truth
Character: Self - Disguised Contestant
TV • 2016
To Tell the Truth
Character: Self - Panelist
TV • 2016
Gigglefudge USA!
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2016
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Character: Pee-wee Herman
MOVIE • 2016
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Character: Dybbuk (voice)
TV • 2016
O.W.C.A. Files
Character: Parenthesis (voice)
MOVIE • 2015
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
Character: The Riddler (voice)
MOVIE • 2015
Crew
Crew Credits
Pee-wee as Himself
Role: Executive Producer
TV • 2025
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 2016
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 2016
The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 2011
Serial Mom
Role: Thanks
MOVIE • 1994
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1988
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Role: Executive Producer
MOVIE • 1988
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1988
Big Top Pee-wee
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1988
Big Top Pee-wee
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1988
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Role: Writer
TV • 1986
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Role: Director
TV • 1986
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Role: Producer
TV • 1986
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Role: Creator
TV • 1986
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1985
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Role: Set Decoration
MOVIE • 1985
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1981
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1981
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Role: Executive Producer
MOVIE • 1981
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Role: Stage Director
MOVIE • 1981