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 Twilight Park
2025
Carny/Mime
Details The World According to Allee Willis
2024
Self (archive footage)
Details Quiz Lady
2023
Francine's Crush
Details The Crown with a Shadow
2021
Oliver (voice)
Details Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
2021
Self (archive footage)
Details Pee-wee's Big Holiday
2016
Pee-wee Herman
Details Phineas and Ferb: The O.W.C.A. Files
2015
Parenthesis (voice)
Details Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
2015
The Riddler (voice)
Details LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered
2014
Bat-Mite (voice)
Details Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
2014
The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
Details Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
2013
Irv (voice)
Details Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
2013
Screwy Squirrel (voice)
Details The Smurfs 2
2013
Jokey Smurf (voice)
Details The Final Moments of Karl Brant
2013
Bennett Ferryman
Details Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
2013
Self
Details Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
2012
The Riddler (voice)
Details Beauty Is Embarrassing
2012
Self
Details The Smurfs
2011
Jokey Smurf (voice)
Details WWE WrestleMania XXVII
2011
Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
Details The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
2011
Pee-wee Herman
Details Life During Wartime
2010
Andy Kornbluth
Details Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
2010
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
Details Reno 911!: Miami
2007
Sir Terrence
Details Re-Animated
2006
Golly Gopher (voice)
Details Teacher's Pet
2004
Dennis (voice)
Details Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003
Self
Details Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
2002
Hermie the Elf (voice)
Details The Groovenians
2002
Jet/The Bubbie
Details South of Heaven, West of Hell
2000
Arvid Henry
Details Doctor Dolittle
1998
Raccoon (voice)
Details Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
1997
Fife (voice)
Details Dunston Checks In
1996
Buck LaFarge
Details The Nightmare Before Christmas
1993
Lock (voice)
Details Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1992
Amilyn
Details Batman Returns
1992
Penguin's Father
Details Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990
Pee-wee Herman
Details Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
1988
Pee-wee Herman
Details Moonwalker
1988
Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
Details Sesame Street | Put Down the Duckie: An All-Star Musical Special
1988
Pee-wee Herman
Details Big Top Pee-wee
1988
Pee-wee Herman
Details Back to the Beach
1987
Pee-Wee Herman
Details The Thrill Can Kill
1987
Pee-Wee Herman
Details Flight of the Navigator
1986
Max (voice)
Details All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
1985
Pee-Wee Herman
Details Pee-wee's Big Adventure
1985
Pee-wee Herman
Details Meatballs: Part II
1984
Albert
Details Cheeseball Presents
1984
Character TBA
Details The Paragon of Comedy
1983
Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
Details Likely Stories Vol. 2
1983
Character TBA
Details Lily for President?
1982
Pee Wee Herman
Details Twilight Theatre
1982
Pee Wee Herman
Details The Pee-wee Herman Show
1981
Pee-wee Herman
Details Nice Dreams
1981
Howie Hamburger Dude
Details All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
1980
Self
Details Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
1980
Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
Details The Blues Brothers
1980
Waiter
Details Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
1980
Cafe Counter Guy
Details Midnight Madness
1980
Pinball City Proprietor
Details School, Girls & You!
1978
Wally Bile
Details The Brotherhood
1968
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Details 