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Paul Reubens

Actor

Paul Reubens

Born August 27, 1952 in Peekskill, New York, USADied July 30, 202362 films

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.

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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.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas posterFirst watchThe Nightmare Before Christmas19937.8as Lock (voice)Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Blues Brothers poster7.7The Blues Brothers1980Blow poster7.4Blow2001Batman Returns poster7.0Batman Returns1992Matilda poster7.2Matilda1996The Smurfs poster5.8The Smurfs2011Flight of the Navigator poster7.0Flight of the Navigator1986Doctor Dolittle poster5.7Doctor Dolittle1998Moonwalker poster7.1Moonwalker1988

Filmography

62 films as actor
  1. TBATwilight ParkCarny/Mime
  2. 2023Quiz LadyFrancine's Crush
  3. 2021The Crown with a ShadowOliver (voice)
  4. 2016Pee-wee's Big HolidayPee-wee Herman
  5. 2015The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical FriendshipThe Riddler (voice)
  6. 2015Accidental LoveEdwin
  7. 2014LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-LeagueredBat-Mite (voice)
  8. 2014Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in ParadiseThe Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
  9. 2013Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt MenaceIrv (voice)
  10. 2013Tom and Jerry's Giant AdventureScrewy Squirrel (voice)
  11. 2013The Smurfs 2Jokey Smurf (voice)
  12. 2013The Final Moments of Karl BrantBennett Ferryman
  13. 2012Robot Chicken: DC Comics SpecialThe Riddler (voice)
  14. 2011The SmurfsJokey Smurf (voice)
  15. 2011WWE WrestleMania XXVIIPee-wee Herman (Appearance)
  16. 2011The Pee-wee Herman Show on BroadwayPee-wee Herman
  17. 2010Life During WartimeAndy Kornbluth
  18. 2007Reno 911!: MiamiSir Terrence
  19. 2007Area 57The Alien
  20. 2006Re-AnimatedGolly Gopher (voice)
  21. 2006The TripperFrank Baker
  22. 2004Teacher's PetDennis (voice)
  23. 2002Rugrats: Babies in ToylandHermie the Elf (voice)
  24. 2002The GrooveniansJet/The Bubbie
  25. 2001BlowDerek Foreal
  26. 2000South of Heaven, West of HellArvid Henry
  27. 1999Mystery MenSpleen
  28. 1998Doctor DolittleRaccoon (voice)
  29. 1997Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasFife (voice)
  30. 1997BuddyProfessor Spatz
  31. 1996MatildaFBI Agent
  32. 1996Dunston Checks InBuck LaFarge
  33. 1993The Nightmare Before ChristmasLock (voice)
  34. 1992Buffy the Vampire SlayerAmilyn
  35. 1992Batman ReturnsPenguin's Father
  36. 1988Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas SpecialPee-wee Herman
  37. 1988MoonwalkerPee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
  38. 1988Sesame Street: Put Down the DuckiePee-wee Herman
  39. 1988Big Top Pee-weePee-wee Herman
  40. 1987It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year CelebrationPee-wee Herman
  41. 1987Back to the BeachPee-Wee Herman
  42. 1986Flight of the NavigatorMax (voice)
  43. 1985All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday SpectacularPee-Wee Herman
  44. 1985Pee-wee's Big AdventurePee-wee Herman
  45. 1984Meatballs: Part IIAlbert
  46. 1984PinocchioPinocchio
  47. 1984Cheeseball Presents
  48. 1983The Paragon of ComedyArnie / Pee-wee Herman
  49. 1983Likely Stories Vol. 2
  50. 1982Lily for President?Pee Wee Herman
  51. 1982PandemoniumJohnson
  52. 1982Twilight TheatrePee Wee Herman
  53. 1981Dream on!
  54. 1981The Pee-wee Herman ShowPee-wee Herman
  55. 1981Nice DreamsHowie Hamburger Dude
  56. 1980Cheech & Chong's Next MoviePee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
  57. 1980The Blues BrothersWaiter
  58. 1980Pray TVJack Chudnowski
  59. 1980Midnight MadnessPinball City Proprietor
  60. 1978School, Girls, and You!Wally Bile
  61. 1975A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts
  62. 1968The BrotherhoodWedding Guest (uncredited)