Paul Reubens
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
American Dad!
2005
Series
American Dad!
Wyatt Borden (voice)
2005
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Blacklist
Mr. Vargas
2013
Series
Adventure Time
Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)
2010
Series
Bob's Burgers
Pat (voice)
2011
Series
Conan
Self
2010
Series
Saturday Night Live
Pee-Wee Herman - Host
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
Gotham
Elijah Van Dahl
2014
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Series
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Dybbuk (voice)
2016
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Pee-wee Herman - Presenter
1944
Series
30 Rock
Gerhardt
2006
Series
Everybody Loves Raymond
Russell
1996
Series
Murphy Brown
Andrew J. Lansing III
1988
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Star Wars Rebels
RX-24 (voice)
2014
Series
Reno 911!
Rick
2003
Series
What We Do in the Shadows
Paul
2019
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Series
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Bat-Mite (voice)
2008
Series
MTV Video Music Awards
Pee-wee Herman
1984
Series
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Ju-Long (voice)
2011
Series
Chowder
Reuben (voice)
2007
Film
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Lock (voice)
1993
Series
Portlandia
Weirdos' Lawyer
2011
Series
The Conners
Sandy Bitensky
2018
Series
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Pee-Wee Herman
2012
Series
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant
2021
Series
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
The Moon
2007
Film
Batman Returns
Penguin's Father
1992
Series
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Butterman (voice)
2014
Series
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Milkman (voice)
2014
Series
Mork & Mindy
Dickie Nimitz
1978
Film
Matilda
FBI Agent
1996
Series
Pushing Daisies
Oscar Vibenius
2007
Series
Ally McBeal
Louis
1997
Series
The Jay Leno Show
Self
2009
Series
227
Pee-Wee Herman
1985
Series
To Tell the Truth
Self - Disguised Contestant
2016
Series
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
2016
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Pinocchio
1982
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Guest Interviewee
1982
Film
The Smurfs
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2011
Film
The Blues Brothers
Waiter
1980
Series
The Flintstone Comedy Show
Freaky Frankenstone
1980
Series
Best Week Ever
2004
Film
The Smurfs 2
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2013
Series
Dirt
Chuck Lafoon
2007
Series
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Paul (voice)
2004
Film
Doctor Dolittle
Raccoon (voice)
1998
Series
TRON: Uprising
Pavel
2012
Series
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Pee-wee Herman
1986
Film
Moonwalker
Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
1988
Series
Minecraft: Story Mode
Ivor (voice)
2018
Film
Blow
Derek Foreal
2001
Film
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Fife (voice)
1997
Series
Mosaic
JC Schiffer
2018
Series
Madame's Place
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Series
Pee-wee as Himself
Self
2025
Film
Accidental Love
Edwin
2015
Film
Mystery Men
Spleen
1999
Series
Dolly
Pee-wee Herman
1987
Film
Flight of the Navigator
Max (voice)
1986
Film
Quiz Lady
Francine's Crush
2023
Film
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
Screwy Squirrel (voice)
2013
Film
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee Herman
1985
Film
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Amilyn
1992
Film
Teacher's Pet
Dennis (voice)
2004
Film
Dunston Checks In
Buck LaFarge
1996
Series
Campus Ladies
2006
Film
Reno 911!: Miami
Sir Terrence
2007
Series
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Self (archive footage)
2020
Series
The Frankenstones
Freaky Frankenstone (voice)
1980
Film
Nice Dreams
Howie Hamburger Dude
1981
Film
Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
Irv (voice)
2013
Film
Big Top Pee-wee
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Film
South of Heaven, West of Hell
Arvid Henry
2000
Film
Gigglefudge USA!
Self
2016
Film
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
1980
Film
The Brotherhood
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1968
Film
Buddy
Professor Spatz
1997
Film
Overnight
Self
2003
Film
The Tripper
Frank Baker
2006
Series
Working Stiffs
1979
Film
LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered
Bat-Mite (voice)
2014
Film
Twilight Park
Carny/Mime
Film
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Pee-wee Herman
2016
Film
Midnight Madness
Pinball City Proprietor
1980
Film
Back to the Beach
Pee-Wee Herman
1987
Series
Hopeless Pictures
2005
Film
The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
The Riddler (voice)
2015
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
1996
Film
The Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
The Riddler (voice)
2012
Film
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Film
Life During Wartime
Andy Kornbluth
2010
Film
Pandemonium
Johnson
1982
Film
WWE WrestleMania XXVII
Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
2011
Film
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
1990
Film
Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
2010
Film
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003
Film
Pinocchio
Pinocchio
1984
Film
Meatballs: Part II
Albert
1984
Film
Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
Self
2013
Film
Re-Animated
Golly Gopher (voice)
2006
Film
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Pee-wee Herman
1988
Film
O.W.C.A. Files
Parenthesis (voice)
2015
Film
The World According to Allee Willis
Self (archive footage)
2024
You Don't Know Jack
Troy Stevens
2001
Film
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
2014
Film
Area 57
The Alien
2007
Film
The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Pee-wee Herman
2011
Film
DEVO
Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
2024
Film
Lily for President?
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Film
Twilight Theatre
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Film
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Self
1980
Film
The Groovenians
Jet/The Bubbie
2002
Film
Pray TV
Jack Chudnowski
1980
Film
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Pee-wee Herman
1981
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
Pee-Wee Herman
1985
Likely Stories Vol. 2
1983
Series
The Groovenians
Jet / The Bubble (voice)
2002
Film
It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration
Pee-wee Herman
1987
Film
Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary
Pee-wee Herman
1989
Film
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
Cafe Counter Guy
1980
Film
Beauty Is Embarrassing
Self
2012
Film
Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
Hermie the Elf (voice)
2002
Film
School, Girls, and You!
Wally Bile
1978
Film
The Final Moments of Karl Brant
Bennett Ferryman
2013
Dream on!
1981
Film
A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts
1975
Film
The Paragon of Comedy
Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
1983
Film
Cheeseball Presents
1984
Film
Cheeseball Presents
Pee-Wee Herman
1984
Film
Above and Beyond
Self
2015
Film
The Thrill Can Kill
Pee-Wee Herman
1987
Film
The Crown with a Shadow
Oliver (voice)
2021