Paul Reubens

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.

Known For

The Blacklist

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

American Dad!

American Dad!

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

Conan

All Movies (80)

• The World According to Allee Willis2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• DEVO2024 · as Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
• Quiz Lady2023 · as Francine's Crush
• The Crown with a Shadow2021 · as Oliver (voice)
• Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Gigglefudge USA!2016 · as Self
• Pee-wee's Big Holiday2016 · as Pee-wee Herman
• O.W.C.A. Files2015 · as Parenthesis (voice)
• Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship2015 · as The Riddler (voice)
• Accidental Love2015 · as Edwin
• Above and Beyond2015 · as Self
• LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered2014 · as Bat-Mite (voice)
• Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise2014 · as The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
• Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace2013 · as Irv (voice)
• Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure2013 · as Screwy Squirrel (voice)
• The Smurfs 22013 · as Jokey Smurf (voice)
• The Final Moments of Karl Brant2013 · as Bennett Ferryman
• Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot2013 · as Self
• Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special2012 · as The Riddler (voice)
• Beauty Is Embarrassing2012 · as Self
• The Smurfs2011 · as Jokey Smurf (voice)
• WWE WrestleMania XXVII2011 · as Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
• The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway2011 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Life During Wartime2010 · as Andy Kornbluth
• Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole2010 · as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
• Reno 911!: Miami2007 · as Sir Terrence
• Area 572007 · as The Alien
• Re-Animated2006 · as Golly Gopher (voice)
• The Tripper2006 · as Frank Baker
• Teacher's Pet2004 · as Dennis (voice)
• 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment2003 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mayor of the Sunset Strip2003 · as Self
• Overnight2003 · as Self
• Rugrats: Babies in Toyland2002 · as Hermie the Elf (voice)
• The Groovenians2002 · as Jet/The Bubbie
• Blow2001 · as Derek Foreal
• South of Heaven, West of Hell2000 · as Arvid Henry
• Mystery Men1999 · as Spleen
• Doctor Dolittle1998 · as Raccoon (voice)
• Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas1997 · as Fife (voice)
• Buddy1997 · as Professor Spatz
• Matilda1996 · as FBI Agent
• Dunston Checks In1996 · as Buck LaFarge
• The Nightmare Before Christmas1993 · as Lock (voice)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer1992 · as Amilyn
• Batman Returns1992 · as Penguin's Father
• Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!1990 · as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
• Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary1989 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special1988 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Moonwalker1988 · as Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
• Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie1988 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Big Top Pee-wee1988 · as Pee-wee Herman
• It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration1987 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Back to the Beach1987 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• The Thrill Can Kill1987 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• Flight of the Navigator1986 · as Max (voice)
• All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular1985 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• Pee-wee's Big Adventure1985 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Meatballs: Part II1984 · as Albert
• Pinocchio1984 · as Pinocchio
• Cheeseball Presents1984
• Cheeseball Presents1984 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• The Paragon of Comedy1983 · as Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
• Likely Stories Vol. 21983
• Lily for President?1982 · as Pee Wee Herman
• Pandemonium1982 · as Johnson
• Twilight Theatre1982 · as Pee Wee Herman
• Dream on!1981
• The Pee-wee Herman Show1981 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Nice Dreams1981 · as Howie Hamburger Dude
• All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special1980 · as Self
• Cheech & Chong's Next Movie1980 · as Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
• The Blues Brothers1980 · as Waiter
• Pray TV1980 · as Jack Chudnowski
• Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty1980 · as Cafe Counter Guy
• Midnight Madness1980 · as Pinball City Proprietor
• School, Girls, and You!1978 · as Wally Bile
• A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts1975
• The Brotherhood1968 · as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
• Twilight Park— · as Carny/Mime

All TV Shows (61)

• Pee-wee as Himself2025 · as Self
• Celebrity Wheel of Fortune2021 · as Self - Contestant
• The Holiday Movies That Made Us2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• What We Do in the Shadows2019 · as Paul
• Minecraft: Story Mode2018 · as Ivor (voice)
• The Conners2018 · as Sandy Bitensky
• Mosaic2018 · as JC Schiffer
• To Tell the Truth2016 · as Self - Disguised Contestant
• To Tell the Truth2016 · as Self - Panelist
• DC's Legends of Tomorrow2016 · as Dybbuk (voice)
• Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero2014 · as The Milkman (voice)
• Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero2014 · as The Butterman (voice)
• Star Wars Rebels2014 · as RX-24 (voice)
• Gotham2014 · as Elijah Van Dahl
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
• The Blacklist2013 · as Mr. Vargas
• Comedy Bang! Bang!2012 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• TRON: Uprising2012 · as Pavel
• Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness2011 · as Ju-Long (voice)
• Portlandia2011 · as Weirdos' Lawyer
• Bob's Burgers2011 · as Pat (voice)
• Conan2010 · as Self
• Adventure Time2010 · as Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)
• The Jay Leno Show2009 · as Self
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold2008 · as Bat-Mite (voice)
• Chowder2007 · as Reuben (voice)
• Pushing Daisies2007 · as Oscar Vibenius
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!2007 · as The Moon
• Dirt2007 · as Chuck Lafoon
• 30 Rock2006 · as Gerhardt
• Campus Ladies2006
• Hopeless Pictures2005
• American Dad!2005
• American Dad!2005 · as Wyatt Borden (voice)
• Tom Goes to the Mayor2004 · as Paul (voice)
• Best Week Ever2004
• Reno 911!2003 · as Rick
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self - Guest
• The Groovenians2002 · as Jet / The Bubble (voice)
• You Don't Know Jack2001 · as Troy Stevens
• Ally McBeal1997 · as Louis
• Everybody Loves Raymond1996 · as Russell
• E! True Hollywood Story1996 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
• Murphy Brown1988 · as Andrew J. Lansing III
• Dolly1987 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Pee-wee's Playhouse1986 · as Pee-wee Herman
• 2271985 · as Pee-Wee Herman
• MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Pee-wee Herman
• Madame's Place1982 · as Pee Wee Herman
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as Pinocchio
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as Guest Interviewee
• The Flintstone Comedy Show1980 · as Freaky Frankenstone
• The Frankenstones1980 · as Freaky Frankenstone (voice)
• Working Stiffs1979
• Mork & Mindy1978 · as Dickie Nimitz
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Pee-Wee Herman - Host
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Pee-wee Herman - Presenter