Paul Reubens
Born: 1952-08-27 in Peekskill, New York, USA
Died: 2023-07-30
Known For: Acting
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
2025
- SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night as Pee Wee Herman
- Pee-wee as Himself as Self
2024
- DEVO as Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
- The World According to Allee Willis as Self (archive footage)
- The House from... ... (In Memory Of)
2023
- Quiz Lady as Francine's Crush
2021
- Celebrity Wheel of Fortune as Self - Contestant
- Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy as Self (archive footage)
- The Crown with a Shadow as Oliver (voice)
2020
- The Holiday Movies That Made Us as Self (archive footage)
2019
- What We Do in the Shadows as Paul
2018
- The Conners as Sandy Bitensky
- Minecraft: Story Mode as Ivor (voice)
- Mosaic as JC Schiffer
2016
- DC's Legends of Tomorrow as Dybbuk (voice)
- To Tell the Truth as Self - Disguised Contestant
- Gigglefudge USA! as Self
- Pee-wee's Big Holiday as Pee-wee Herman
2015
- Accidental Love as Edwin
- Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship as The Riddler (voice)
- O.W.C.A. Files as Parenthesis (voice)
- Above and Beyond as Self
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Gotham as Elijah Van Dahl
- Star Wars Rebels as RX-24 (voice)
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero as The Milkman (voice)
- Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise as The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered as Bat-Mite (voice)
2013
- The Blacklist as Mr. Vargas
- The Smurfs 2 as Jokey Smurf (voice)
- Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure as Screwy Squirrel (voice)
- The Final Moments of Karl Brant as Bennett Ferryman
- Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot as Self
- Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace as Irv (voice)
2012
- Comedy Bang! Bang! as Pee-Wee Herman
- TRON: Uprising as Pavel
- Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special as The Riddler (voice)
- Beauty Is Embarrassing as Self
2011
- Bob's Burgers as Pat (voice)
- Portlandia as Weirdos' Lawyer
- The Smurfs as Jokey Smurf (voice)
- WWE WrestleMania XXVII as Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
- The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway as Pee-wee Herman
2010
- Adventure Time as Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)
- Conan as Self
- Life During Wartime as Andy Kornbluth
- Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
2009
- The Jay Leno Show as Self
2008
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold as Bat-Mite (voice)
2007
- Chowder as Reuben (voice)
- Pushing Daisies as Oscar Vibenius
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as The Moon
- Dirt as Chuck Lafoon
- Area 57 as The Alien
- Reno 911!: Miami as Sir Terrence
2006
- 30 Rock as Gerhardt
- The Tripper as Frank Baker
- Re-Animated as Golly Gopher (voice)
- Campus Ladies
2004
- Best Week Ever
- Tom Goes to the Mayor as Paul (voice)
- Teacher's Pet as Dennis (voice)
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- Reno 911! as Rick
- Overnight as Self
- Mayor of the Sunset Strip as Self
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment as Self (archive footage)
2002
- The Groovenians as Jet/The Bubbie
- Rugrats: Babies in Toyland as Hermie the Elf (voice)
- The Groovenians as Jet / The Bubble (voice)
2001
- Blow as Derek Foreal
- You Don't Know Jack as Troy Stevens
2000
- South of Heaven, West of Hell as Arvid Henry
1999
- Mystery Men as Spleen
1998
- Doctor Dolittle as Raccoon (voice)
1997
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas as Fife (voice)
- Ally McBeal as Louis
- Buddy as Professor Spatz
1996
- Everybody Loves Raymond as Russell
- Matilda as FBI Agent
- Dunston Checks In as Buck LaFarge
- E! True Hollywood Story as Self
1994
- Serial Mom ... (Thanks)
1993
- The Nightmare Before Christmas as Lock (voice)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- Batman Returns as Penguin's Father
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Amilyn
1990
- Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
1988
- Murphy Brown as Andrew J. Lansing III
- Moonwalker as Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special as Pee-wee Herman
- Big Top Pee-wee as Pee-wee Herman
- Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie as Pee-wee Herman
1987
- Dolly as Pee-wee Herman
- Back to the Beach as Pee-Wee Herman
- The Thrill Can Kill as Pee-Wee Herman
1986
- Flight of the Navigator as Max (voice)
- Pee-wee's Playhouse as Pee-wee Herman
1985
- 227 as Pee-Wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure as Pee-wee Herman
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular as Pee-Wee Herman
1984
- MTV Video Music Awards as Pee-wee Herman
- Cheeseball Presents
- Pinocchio as Pinocchio
- Meatballs: Part II as Albert
1983
- The Paragon of Comedy as Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
- Likely Stories Vol. 2
1982
- Faerie Tale Theatre as Pinocchio
- Pandemonium as Johnson
- Twilight Theatre as Pee Wee Herman
- Madame's Place as Pee Wee Herman
- Lily for President? as Pee Wee Herman
1981
- The Pee-wee Herman Show as Pee-wee Herman
- Dream on!
- Nice Dreams as Howie Hamburger Dude
1980
- The Blues Brothers as Waiter
- Midnight Madness as Pinball City Proprietor
- The Flintstone Comedy Show as Freaky Frankenstone
- Pray TV as Jack Chudnowski
- Cheech & Chong's Next Movie as Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
- Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty as Cafe Counter Guy
- The Frankenstones as Freaky Frankenstone (voice)
- All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special as Self
1979
1978
- Mork & Mindy as Dickie Nimitz
- School, Girls, and You! as Wally Bile
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Pee-Wee Herman - Host
- A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts
1968
- The Brotherhood as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1962
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Pee-wee Herman - Presenter