Pee-Wee Herman Actor Paul Reubens Dead at 70 _ E! News

Transcript

00:00 Actor Paul Rubens, who portrayed the beloved character Pee-wee Herman, died on July 30th

00:07 after a private health battle. He was 70 years old.

00:11 A message posted to his Instagram and Facebook pages on July 31st reads, "Last night we

00:19 said farewell to Paul Rubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, whose

00:27 beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his

00:32 positivity, whimsy, and belief in the importance of kindness."

00:39 It continues, "Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark

00:44 tenacity and wit, a gifted and prolific talent. He will forever live in the comedy pantheon

00:52 and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity

00:58 of spirit."

01:00 The announcement of his death also includes a personal statement from the actor, explaining

01:06 why he had kept his medical condition under wraps.

01:10 "Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last

01:16 six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans,

01:22 and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you."

01:29 In the late 70s, after beginning his career as part of the improv troupe The Groundlings,

01:35 he debuted Pee-wee Herman, which quickly earned a cult following. He continued to capture

01:41 the heart of audiences with Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee, and Pee-wee's

01:47 Playhouse.

01:49 But over the years, Paul retreated from the spotlight as he faced legal troubles. In 1991,

01:55 he was arrested at a movie theater in Florida for indecent exposure, NBC News reports. He

02:02 later pleaded no contest.

02:05 More than a decade later, in 2004, Paul pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge involving

02:11 photographs of minors engaged in sexual conduct, according to NBC News. He was sentenced to

02:18 three years of probation.

02:21 Among the many celebrities sharing memories of the Hollywood actor, late-night host Jimmy

02:27 Kimmel takes to social media to write, "Paul Rubens was like no one else. A brilliant and

02:33 original comedian, who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time. He never forgot

02:40 a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met. My family

02:46 and I will miss him."

02:47 - Jimmy Kimmel, NBC News.