History Creator / PaulReubens

* ''Pandemonium'' (1982) as Johnson

"[[CatchPhrase I know you are, but what am I?]]"]]

* ''Series/WhatWeDoInTheShadows'' (1 episode, 2019) as Paul

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reubens.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350: "'[[SignatureLaugh HA HA, heh heh heh!]]"\\

Spending a significant amount of his childhood in Oneonta, UsefulNotes/{{New York|State}} and Sarasota, UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, Reubens regularly visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, its atmosphere sparking his interest in entertainment and influenced his later work as well as wanting to make people laugh on account of his love of watching ''Series/ILoveLucy'' reruns. He joined the local Asolo Theater at the age of eleven, appearing in a variety of plays during the next six years. After graduating high school in 1970, he attended Boston University for a year before dropping out and seeking his fortune in Hollywood.

[[quoteright:322:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/31f772a2_bf19_49d4_90ae_6a3fcd0fc5eb.png]]
[[caption-width-right:322: "'[[SignatureLaugh HA HA, heh heh heh!]]"\\

** In 2007, Reubens appeared at Creator/SpikeTV's ''Guys' Choice Awards'' in character as Pee-wee Herman for the first time since 1991 and stated that he planned to do more with the character. He then went on to play Pee-wee for late night talk shows, live performances, and even a new Pee-wee Herman movie for Netflix.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Paul Reubens originally auditioned for ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' in 1980 (when the original cast members, writers, and Creator/LorneMichaels left, and Jean Doumanian was hired). On the one hand, the idea of Pee-wee Herman as a recurring character would have made ''SNL'' at the time more palatable (but only if Creator/EddieMurphy were never hired). On the other hand, Reubens' career probably would have stalled or never gotten off the ground if he was a cast member during the sixth season (cited by many as the worst season ever), as, outside of Eddie Murphy and Creator/GilbertGottfried (and, to a lesser extent, Denny Dillon[[note]]who appeared on such shows as ''Series/NightCourt'' and ''Series/DreamOn'' before retiring from acting to do art and dollhouses[[/note]], Charles Rocket[[note]]who appeared in a lot of supporting roles in TV and movies until his suicide in 2005[[/note]], and Gail Matthius[[note]]whom most kids who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s will remember as a voice actress on ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', ''Animaniacs'', ''WesternAnimation/BumpInTheNight'', and ''WesternAnimation/BobbysWorld''. Matthius is now an improv teacher and performer.[[/note]]), nobody from season six went on to lasting fame since they were associated with such a horrible season.

** Reubens was also supposed to be the voice of Flapjack on the Cartoon Network show ''The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack'', but never showed up to audition, so Creator/ThuropVanOrman (the show creator) stepped in, doing a Pee-wee Herman-esque voice.

** Reubens was also supposed to be the voice of Flapjack on the Cartoon Network show ''The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack'', but never showed up to audition, so Thurop van Orman (the show creator) stepped in, doing a Pee-wee Herman-esque voice.

In the mid-1970s, Paul Reubens' acting career grew steadily yet slowly with small roles in theater productions, gigs at local comedy clubs and four guest appearances on ''Series/TheGongShow''. During his time of pursuing an acting major at California Institute of the Arts as well as working in a string of pay-the-rent jobs, Reubens joined an improvisational comedy troupe called ''The Groundlings''. Among Reubens' contributions to the comedic community were a philandering husband named Moses Feldman, an Indian chief named Jay Longtoe and cult character Pee-wee Herman, who debuted in 1978. Only appearing in ten minutes of ''The Groundlings'' as Pee-wee, Reubens nonetheless built up a considerable following, turning out to be a star of the '80s, marking his comedic fictional character's first significant appearance on the stage show ''The Pee-wee Herman Show'', followed by big-screen roles in 1985's ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure'' (which is notable for being the feature-length directorial debut of an up-and-coming Creator/TimBurton) and 1988's ''Film/BigTopPeeWee''.

Sadly, the squeaky clean image of Pee-wee Herman was destroyed on July 28, 1991, when Reubens fell victim to a police sting operation while visiting his parents in Sarasota during his summer vacation. Seeking to escape from boredom, Reubens went to catch a showing of X-rated film ''Nurse Nancy'', where he was arrested for sex charges when detectives allegedly [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown caught him enjoying the movie a little too much]]. Released on $219 bail, nobody realized what happened until somebody recognized him beneath his long hair and goatee in his mugshot. As a result, Creator/{{CBS}} dropped ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'' (contrary to popular belief at the time, CBS didn't "cancel" the show; Reubens and the network had already agreed to end it, and in fact the final new episode had aired in November 1990; what CBS ''did'' do was stop airing re-reuns) and related merchandise was released from its shelves. Reubens agreed to pay a $50 fine plus $85 in court costs as well as producing a memorably {{Narm}}y [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZptx6UQLk PSA]] for the Partnership for Drug-Free America commercial. As part of the deal, the county sealed all legal papers relating to the actor's arrest, not leaving Reubens with a criminal record.

Sadly, the squeaky clean image of Pee-wee Herman was destroyed on July 28, 1991, when Reubens fell victim to a police sting operation while visiting his parents in Sarasota during his summer vacation. Seeking to escape from boredom, Reubens went to catch a showing of X-rated film ''Nurse Nancy'', where he was arrested for sex charges when detectives allegedly [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown caught him enjoying the movie a little too much]]. Released on $219 bail, nobody realized what happened until somebody recognized him beneath his long hair and goatee in his mugshot. As a result, Creator/{{CBS}} dropped ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'' (contrary to popular belief at the time, CBS didn't "cancel" the show; Reubens and the network had already agreed to end it, and in fact the final new episode had aired in November, 1990; what CBS ''did'' do was stop airing re-reuns) and related merchandise was released from its shelves. Reubens agreed to pay a $50 fine plus $85 in court costs as well as producing a memorably {{Narm}}y [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZptx6UQLk PSA]] for the Partnership for Drug-Free America commercial. As part of the deal, the county sealed all legal papers relating to the actor's arrest, not leaving Reubens with a criminal record.

Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023, following six years of [[SecretlyDying a private battle with cancer]], as announced on his official Facebook page.

* RefugeInAudacity: Shortly after his 1991 arrest, Reubens was invited to open that year's MTV Video Music Awards. By all accounts he was ''incredibly'' hesitant to do so (including nearly backing out just hours before airtime), but decided to go ahead. He ended up receving huge applause when he walked onstage, and proceed to leave the audience in hysterics by yelling "Heard any good jokes lately?!", followed up with his standard "Oh, oh yeah, that was so funny I forgot to laugh!" response.

* RefugeInAudacity: Shortly after his 1991 arrest, Reubens was invited to open that year's MTV Video Music Awards. By all accountw he was ''incredibly'' hesitant to do so (including nearly backing on just hours before airtime), but decided to go ahead. He ended up receving huge applause when he walked onstage, and proceed to leave the audience in hysterics by yelling "Heard any good jokes lately?!", followed up with his standard "Oh, oh yeah, that was so funny I forgot to laugh!" response.

Sadly, the squeaky clean image of Pee-wee Herman was destroyed on July 28, 1991, when Reubens fell victim to a police sting operation while visiting his parents in Sarasota during his summer vacation. Seeking to escape from boredom, Reubens went to catch a showing of X-rated film ''Nurse Nancy'', where he was arrested for sex charges when detectives allegedly [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown caught him enjoying the movie a little too much]]. Released on $219 bail, nobody realized what happened until somebody recognized him beneath his long hair and goatee in his mugshot. As a result, Creator/{{CBS}} dropped ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'' and related merchandise was released from its shelves. Reubens agreed to pay a $50 fine plus $85 in court costs as well as producing a memorably {{Narm}}y [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZptx6UQLk PSA]] for the Partnership for Drug-Free America commercial. As part of the deal, the county sealed all legal papers relating to the actor's arrest, not leaving Reubens with a criminal record.

* ''Film/FlightOfTheNavigator'' (1986) as Trimaxion/Max

* ''[[Series/OutOfJimmysHead Re-Animated]]'' (2006) as Golly Gopher[[note]]TV movie[[/note]]

* ''Film/TheSmurfs'' (2011) as Jokey Smurf

[[caption-width-right:322: "'[[SignatureLaugh Ha ha heh heh heh!]]"\\

Spending a significant amount of his childhood in Oneonta, UsefulNotes/{{New York|State}} and Sarasota, UsefulNotes/{{Florida}}, Reubens regularly visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, its atmosphere sparking his interest in entertainment and influenced his later work as well as wanting to make people laugh on account of his love of watching ''Series/ILoveLucy'' reruns. He joined the local Asolo Theater at the age of eleven, appearing in a variety of plays during the next six years. After graduating from Sarasota High School in 1970, he attended Boston University for a year before dropping out and seeking his fortune in Hollywood.

Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023 following six years of a private battle with cancer, as announced on his official Facebook page.

Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023 following a private battle with cancer, as announced on his official Facebook page.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Paul Reubens originally auditioned for ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' in 1980 (when the original cast members, writers, and Creator/LorneMichaels left, and Jean Doumanian was hired). On the one hand, the idea of Pee-Wee Herman as a recurring character would have made ''SNL'' at the time more palatable (but only if Creator/EddieMurphy were never hired). On the other hand, Reubens' career probably would have stalled or never gotten off the ground if he was a cast member during the sixth season (cited by many as the worst season ever), as, outside of Eddie Murphy and Creator/GilbertGottfried (and, to a lesser extent, Denny Dillon[[note]]who appeared on such shows as ''Series/NightCourt'' and ''Series/DreamOn'' before retiring from acting to do art and dollhouses[[/note]], Charles Rocket[[note]]who appeared in a lot of supporting roles in TV and movies until his suicide in 2005[[/note]], and Gail Matthius[[note]]whom most kids who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s will remember as a voice actress on ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', ''Animaniacs'', ''WesternAnimation/BumpInTheNight'', and ''WesternAnimation/BobbysWorld''. Matthius is now an improv teacher and performer.[[/note]]), nobody from season six went on to lasting fame since they were associated with such a horrible season.
** Not to mention getting spurned by ''SNL'' inspired him to put together his own show. He conceived of the Pee-Wee Herman character on the plane ride home, borrowed some money from his parents, cast his friends from improv, and the rest is history. So he walked away with a successful original character that was all his own, not Lorne Michaels' or NBC's.
** Reubens was also supposed to be the voice of Flapjack on the Cartoon Network show ''The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack'', but never showed up to audition, so Thurop van Orman (the show creator) stepped in, doing a Pee-Wee Herman-esque voice.

** In 2007, Reubens appeared at Creator/SpikeTV's ''Guys' Choice Awards'' in character as Pee-wee Herman for the first time since 1991 and stated that he planned to do more with the character. Reubens went on to play Pee-wee for late night talk shows, live performances and even a new Pee-wee Herman movie for Netflix.

** In 2007, Reubens appeared at Creator/SpikeTV's ''Guys' Choice Awards'' as Pee-wee Herman for the first time since 1991 and stated that he planned to do more with the character. Reubens went on to play Pee-wee for late night talk shows, live performances and even a new Pee-wee Herman movie for Netflix.

** Not to mention getting spurned by SNL inspired him to put together his own show. He conceived of the Pee-Wee Herman character on the plane ride home, borrowed some money from his parents, cast his friends from improv, and the rest is history. So he walked away with a successful original character that was all his, not Lorne Michaels' or SNL's.

Spending a significant amount of his childhood in [[UsefulNotes/NewYorkState Oneonta, New York]], Reubens regularly visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, its atmosphere sparking his interest in entertainment and influenced his later work as well as wanting to make people laugh on account of his love of watching ''Series/ILoveLucy'' reruns. He joined the local Asolo Theater at the age of eleven, appearing in a variety of plays during the next six years. After graduating from Sarasota High School in 1970, he attended Boston University for a year before dropping out and seeking his fortune in Hollywood.

Sadly, the squeaky clean image of Pee-wee Herman was destroyed on July 28, 1991, when Reubens fell victim to a police sting operation while visiting his parents in Sarasota on his summer vacation. Seeking to escape from boredom, Reubens went to catch a showing of X-rated film ''Nurse Nancy'', where he was arrested for sex charges when detectives allegedly [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown caught him enjoying the movie a little too much]]. Released on $219 bail, nobody realized what happened until somebody recognized him beneath his long hair and goatee in his mugshot. As a result, Creator/{{CBS}} dropped ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'' and related merchandise was released from its shelves. Reubens agreed to pay a $50 fine plus $85 in court costs as well as producing a memorably {{Narm}}y [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLZptx6UQLk PSA]] for the Partnership for Drug-Free America commercial. As part of the deal, the county sealed all legal papers relating to the actor's arrest, not leaving Reubens with a criminal record.