The secret word today: sadness. In an unforeseen announcement, reps for Paul Reubens, the beloved star who created the character of Pee-wee Herman confirmed that he had died at the age of 70. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed, but reps for the star confirmed that he had been battle cancer for many years prior to his passing.
“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,” reps for the star wrote on this Facebook page. “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.”
The post also shared a message from Paul, presumably written before his passing, letting his loved ones know how much he cared for them. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” the message from Paul read. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect for my friends fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
Paul Reubens’ legacy primarily revolves around his creation and portrayal of Pee-wee Herman in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1986, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” premiered on television and thus, Paul’s childlike persona was cemented forever in the pop culture zeitgeist. It was such a powerhouse that actors like Laurence Fishburne, Sandra Bernhard, and Natasha Lyonne all made appearances. The show ran for 4 years and had 2 spinoff movies, one directed by Tim Burton.
His other roles included playing Penguin’s Father in Batman Returns and guest spots on shows like Ally McBeal, 30 Rock, and Portlandia. He also did quite a bit of voice acting, lending his talents to everything from Phineas and Ferb to American Dad and even some video games in the Star Wars and Call of Duty universes.
Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.
This story originally appeared on Hollywoodlife
