Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and began his profession as an improvisational comic and stage performer. In 1982, Reubens put up a show of a character he was developing during the previous couple of years. Peewee became an immediate cult figure as well as for another decade Reubens would be totally devoted to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Peewee. In 1985 “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure”, directed from the then-unknown Tim Burton, was a financial success and, despite getting mixed reviews, it grown into a cult film. “Big Top Pee-wee”, 1988’s sequel, was less successful than its forerunner. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Peewee in the CBS Saturday-morning children’s program “Pee-wee’s Playhouse”.
The arrest set off a chain reaction of national media interest that altered the general people’s perspective of Reubens and Peewee. The arrest postponed Reubens’ participation in large jobs until 1999, when he appeared in the large-budget jobs “Mystery Men” and “Blow” and began giving interviews as himself rather than as Peewee.
Since 2006, Reubens has been making cameos and guest appearances in numerous endeavors, including “Reno 911!”, “30 Rock”, “Soil”, and “Pushing Daisies”. Because the 1990s, he’s worked on two potential Peewee pictures — one dim and mature, dubbed “The Pee-wee Herman Narrative”, and one a family-friendly heroic experience called “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie”.
Actor, writer, film producer, game show host, improvisational comedian
Education
Sarasota High School, Northewestwrn and Boston Universities, California Institute of the Arts
Nationality
American
Parents
Judy Rubenfeld, Milton Rubenfeld
Siblings
Abby Rubenfeld, Luke Rubenfeld
Awards
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design (1988, 1991)
Nominations
Kid's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor (1988), Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (1995)
Movies
“Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”(1985), "Big Top Pee-wee" (1988), "The Blues Brothers" (1980), "Buddy" (1997), "Blow" (2001), "Accidental Love" (2015), "Pee-wee's Big Holiday" (2016),
TV Shows
“The Wee Herman Pee-show on Broadway” (2010-2011), “The Pee-wee Herman Show”(1981–1984), “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse”(1986–1990), "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Batman: The Brave and the Bold", "Tron: Uprising", "American Dad!", "Portlandia"
Star Sign
Virgo
#
Trademark
1
His most famous role is Pee-Wee Herman, a hyper child-man with slick short hair, who always wore a glen plaid suit that was a size too small with a red bow tie.
#
Quote
1
The public may think I'm weird. They may think I'm crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That's all fine. As long as one of the things you're not thinking about me is that I'm a pedophile. Because that's not true.
2
I've always felt like a kid, and I still feel like a kid, and I've never had any problem tapping into my childhood, and my kid side.
3
But I don't know. Pee-wee just kind of popped out one day, pretty much fully fleshed-out and fully formed.
4
I probably have become more infamous from two misdemeanors than probably anyone I could think of.
5
I was Pee-wee Herman for so many years that it wasn't really a question that I didn't want to do other things.
6
I would love to be in Kansas.
7
The public already knows about me more than I ever wanted it to know.
8
I think my entire career path was determined for me when I was 6 years old, watching reruns of 'I Love Lucy' on TV and thinking about making people laugh.
9
Look at me, I'm getting defensive about something that happened so many years ago, somebody said. I'll have to find out who that was and if he's still alive.
10
The moment that I realized my name was going to be said in the same sentence as children and sex, that's really intense. That's something I knew from that very moment, whatever happens past that point, something's out there in the air that is really bad.
11
Had we gone to trial, we had ready an expert from the Masters and Johnson Institute who was going to testify that in 30 years of research on masturbation the institute had never found one person who masturbated with his or her non-dominant hand. I'm right-handed, and the police report said I was jerking off with my left hand. That would have been the end of the case right there, proof it couldn't have been me.
12
Amazingly, by way of a mutual friend of his son Christian, I learned that even Marlon Brando thought Pee-wee was a real person! He couldn't believe I was an actor who had created that persona-which is maybe the highest benediction.
13
I tried to be responsible in teaching kids things I thought were good lessons, all in the context of,'it's O.K. to be wild and have a good time.'
#
Fact
1
Credits Joan Rivers as his favorite mentor/best friend.
Played Penguins father in both Batman Returns and in Gotham.
4
His paternal grandparents were Polish Jewish immigrants. His mother was of German Jewish and Russian Jewish descent.
5
Early on, he had commuted from his home in Los Angeles, California, to New York City, New York, every week for 1 year, to film Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986), before the show moved to California, the following year.
6
Had talked himself into moving production of Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986), from New York City, New York, to Los Angeles, California, for the show's second season, had been a better move for him, much due to the uncomfortable hot weather, along with inadequate shooting conditions of working in New York City, which combined with Reubens' traveling from his California house.
7
Known to be a very private man.
8
Paul has brought about a Pee Wee "Revival." Earlier this year (2010) Paul brought The Pee Wee Herman Show to the Nokia theater in L.A. As of October 26th, 2010 he has brought the Pee Wee Herman show to Broadway, and he is doing shows up until January 2nd 2011. [October 2010]
9
Lives a reclusive life in the Los Angeles area. [October 2002]
10
Dated Debi Mazar from 1993-1999. Credits her for ending the depression resulting from his 1991 arrest.
11
Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6562 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, in 1988.
12
Child pornography charges stemming from 2002 were dropped from his record. The case never even went to trial. [March 2004]
13
His father fought as a pilot during World War II, first for Britain's Royal Air Force and then for the United States Air Force. He was also one of the first pilots to fly in the Israeli Air Force.
14
Has a sister, Abbey, who lives in Tennessee.
15
Spoofed in the Eminem song and music video "Just Lose It".
16
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 214-216. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
17
Former member of the comedy troupe The Groundlings.
18
Arrested for misdemeanor count of possessing child pornography November 15, 2002, in Los Angeles. Posted $20,000 bail and was released.
19
Credits pioneer TV children's show host Pinky Lee as a partial inspiration for his character Pee-Wee Herman. Like Reubens, Lee also wore a tight checked suit and hat as part of his characterization.
20
Confirmed on his appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) that he is now bringing back the character of Pee-Wee Herman. [April 2001]
21
Arrested for allegedly masturbating at an adult movie theatre. [1991]
22
Was a contestant on TV's The Gong Show (1976) during the late 1970s.
$5 Million
