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 · (2 episodes)
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