Actor Paul Reubens has passed away at the age of 70 years old. He died from a long battle with cancer that he previously had kept private. The announcement was made on his Facebook page last night. The following was posted:
Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness. Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.
Reubens left a statement where he apologized for not disclosing his condition.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
Paul Reubens in Star Wars
Most known for bringing Pee-Wee Herman to life, Reubens performed in many other places and as many other characters throughout his career. He brought the beloved droid RX-24, who piloted a Starspeeder 3000 for the first time (thousands of times) in the original version of Star Tours. The version of Star Tours with Reuben’s RX-24 could be experienced in four Disney parks around the globe at one point. This included Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. He reprised the role for Star Wars Rebels in the episode Droids in Distress.
His voice was also utilized in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for DJ-R3X in Oga’s Cantina. At times when the droid glitches, some lines from the droid’s former life as RX-24 can be heard by those visiting the Cantina.
Paul Reubens Performances
He also lent his voice to many other characters throughout his life. This included Jokey Smurf in the live action Smurfs, Fife in Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Lock in The Nightmare Before Christmas and Oogie’s Revenge, Professor Parenthesis in the Phineas and Ferb, and many more. He also could be seen in 30 Rock, The Blacklist, and Gotham and many other projects.
Paul Reubens Projects
Paul Reubens was working on two Pee-Wee Herman projects at the time of his death. This included a black comedy titled The Pee-wee Herman Story and the other was a family adventure film called Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie.
Paul Reubens Tributes
The passing of Paul Reubens led to tributes being shared by other entertainers. Jimmy Kimmel took to Twitter/X and shared, “Paul Reubens was like no one else – a brilliant and original comedian who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time. He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met. My family and I will miss him.”
“No tweet can capture the magic, generosity, artistry, and devout silliness of Paul Reubens. Everyone I know received countless nonsensical memes from Paul on their birthday, and I mean EVERYONE. His surreal comedy and unrelenting kindness were a gift to us all. Damn, this hurts,” tweeted Conan O’Brien.
Director Paul Fieg took to Instagram saying, “This is devastating. Truly heartbreaking. Paul was such a comedy genius. From his Letterman appearances to his TV shows and movies, he was so original and hilarious. And such a sweet man too. This is a huge loss for comedy. Thanks for all the laughs, Paul.”
Danny DeVito said, “Really loved working with him. Very sad.”
The death of Reubens came as a shock to the world of entertainment and his loss will be felt by all of those who loved him and his work. Daps Magic sends thoughts and condolensces to Reubens’ loved ones.
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