Paul Reubens was an American actor and comedian, widely known for creating and portraying the character Pee-wee Herman.
Reubens in 2016
Reubens as a high school senior, 1970
Reubens exploring Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles (1984)
Reubens as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards
Pee-wee Herman is a comedy character created and portrayed by the American comedian Paul Reubens. He starred in films and television series during the 1980s. The childlike Pee-wee Herman character developed as a stage act that quickly led to an HBO special in 1981. As the stage performance gained further popularity, Reubens took the character to motion picture with Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985, toning down the adult innuendo for the appeal of children. This paved the way for Pee-wee's Playhouse, an Emmy Award-winning children's series that ran on CBS from 1986 to 1991. Another film, Big Top Pee-wee, was released in 1988.
Paul Reubens in character as Pee-wee Herman at the 1988 Academy Awards
One of the prop bicycles used in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure". On display in the Bicycle exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center
Portrait of Pee-wee Herman by Jim McDermott
Reubens in 1985 receiving Harvard Lampoon's Elmer Award for lifetime achievement in comedy
