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.

The World According to Allee Willis
Self (archive footage)
2024

Quiz Lady
Francine's Crush
2023

Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
Self (archive footage)
2021

Gigglefudge USA!
Self
2016

Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Pee-wee Herman
2016

O.W.C.A. Files
Parenthesis (voice)
2015

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
The Riddler (voice)
2015

Accidental Love
Edwin
2015

Above and Beyond
Self
2015

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered
Bat-Mite (voice)
2014

Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
2014

Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
Irv (voice)
2013

Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
Screwy Squirrel (voice)
2013

The Smurfs 2
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2013

The Final Moments of Karl Brant
Bennett Ferryman
2013

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
Self
2013

Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
The Riddler (voice)
2012

Beauty Is Embarrassing
Self
2012

The Smurfs
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2011

WWE WrestleMania XXVII
Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
2011

The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Pee-wee Herman
2011

Life During Wartime
Andy Kornbluth
2010

Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
2010

Reno 911!: Miami
Sir Terrence
2007

Area 57
The Alien
2007

Re-Animated
Golly Gopher (voice)
2006

The Tripper
Frank Baker
2006

Teacher's Pet
Dennis (voice)
2004

Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003

Overnight
Self
2003

Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
Hermie the Elf (voice)
2002

Blow
Derek Foreal
2001

South of Heaven, West of Hell
Arvid Henry
2000

Mystery Men
Spleen
1999

Doctor Dolittle
Raccoon (voice)
1998

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Fife (voice)
1997

Buddy
Professor Spatz
1997

Matilda
FBI Agent
1996

Dunston Checks In
Buck LaFarge
1996

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Lock (voice)
1993

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Amilyn
1992

Batman Returns
Penguin's Father
1992

Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Pee-wee Herman
1988

Moonwalker
Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
1988

Sesame Street | Put Down the Duckie: An All-Star Musical Special
Pee-wee Herman
1988

Big Top Pee-wee
Pee-wee Herman
1988

Back to the Beach
Pee-Wee Herman
1987

The Thrill Can Kill
Pee-Wee Herman
1987

Flight of the Navigator
Max (voice)
1986

Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee Herman
1985

Meatballs: Part II
Albert
1984

Pinocchio
Pinocchio
1984

Cheeseball Presents
1984

The Paragon of Comedy
Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
1983
Likely Stories Vol. 2
1983

Lily for President?
Pee Wee Herman
1982

Pandemonium
Johnson
1982

Twilight Theatre
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Dream on!
1981

The Pee-wee Herman Show
Pee-wee Herman
1981

Nice Dreams
Howie Hamburger Dude
1981

All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Self
1980

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
1980

The Blues Brothers
Waiter
1980

Pray TV
Jack Chudnowski
1980

Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
Cafe Counter Guy
1980

Midnight Madness
Pinball City Proprietor
1980

School, Girls, and You!
Wally Bile
1978

The Brotherhood
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1968

Twilight Park
Carny/Mime

Pee-wee as Himself
Self · (2 episodes)
2025

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
Pee Wee Herman · (4 episodes)
2025

The Crown with a Shadow
Oliver (voice)
2021

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2021

The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020

What We Do in the Shadows
Paul · (1 episode)
2019

Minecraft: Story Mode
Ivor (voice) · (5 episodes)
2018

The Conners
Sandy Bitensky · (1 episode)
2018

Mosaic
JC Schiffer · (6 episodes)
2018

To Tell the Truth
Self - Disguised Contestant · (3 episodes)
2016

To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
2016

DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Dybbuk (voice) · (5 episodes)
2016

Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Milkman (voice) · (2 episodes)
2014

Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Butterman (voice) · (1 episode)
2014

Star Wars Rebels
RX-24 (voice) · (1 episode)
2014

Gotham
Elijah Van Dahl · (3 episodes)
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(1 episode)
2014

The Blacklist
Mr. Vargas · (5 episodes)
2013

Comedy Bang! Bang!
Pee-Wee Herman · (1 episode)
2012

TRON: Uprising
Pavel · (18 episodes)
2012

Portlandia
Weirdos' Lawyer · (1 episode)
2011

Bob's Burgers
Pat (voice) · (1 episode)
2011

Conan
Self · (2 episodes)
2010

Adventure Time
Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice) · (1 episode)
2010

The Jay Leno Show
Self · (1 episode)
2009

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Bat-Mite (voice) · (4 episodes)
2008

Chowder
Reuben (voice) · (2 episodes)
2007

Pushing Daisies
Oscar Vibenius · (2 episodes)
2007

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
The Moon · (1 episode)
2007

Dirt
Chuck Lafoon · (3 episodes)
2007

30 Rock
Gerhardt · (1 episode)
2006

Campus Ladies
(1 episode)
2006

Hopeless Pictures
(8 episodes)
2005

American Dad!
(1 episode)
2005

American Dad!
Wyatt Borden (voice) · (1 episode)
2005

Tom Goes to the Mayor
Paul (voice) · (1 episode)
2004

Best Week Ever
(1 episode)
2004

Reno 911!
Rick · (1 episode)
2003

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (3 episodes)
2003

The Groovenians
Jet/The Bubbie
2002

The Groovenians
Jet / The Bubble (voice) · (1 episode)
2002
You Don't Know Jack
Troy Stevens · (6 episodes)
2001

Ally McBeal
Louis · (1 episode)
1997

Everybody Loves Raymond
Russell · (1 episode)
1996

E! True Hollywood Story
Self · (1 episode)
1996

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992

Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Pee-wee Herman
1990

Murphy Brown
Andrew J. Lansing III · (6 episodes)
1988

Dolly
Pee-wee Herman · (1 episode)
1987

Pee-wee's Playhouse
Pee-wee Herman · (45 episodes)
1986

227
Pee-Wee Herman · (1 episode)
1985
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
Pee-Wee Herman
1985

MTV Video Music Awards
Pee-wee Herman · (1 episode)
1984

Cheeseball Presents
Pee-Wee Herman
1984

Madame's Place
Pee Wee Herman · (1 episode)
1982

Faerie Tale Theatre
Pinocchio · (1 episode)
1982

Faerie Tale Theatre
Guest Interviewee · (1 episode)
1982

The Flintstone Comedy Show
Freaky Frankenstone · (126 episodes)
1980

The Frankenstones
Freaky Frankenstone (voice) · (11 episodes)
1980

Working Stiffs
(1 episode)
1979

Mork & Mindy
Dickie Nimitz · (1 episode)
1978

Saturday Night Live
Pee-Wee Herman - Host · (1 episode)
1975

Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975

A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts
1975

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (5 episodes)
1962

Golden Globe Awards
Pee-wee Herman - Presenter · (1 episode)
1944