Paul Reubens
Acting Born Aug 27, 1952 Died Jul 30, 2023 Peekskill, New York, USA 162 credits
Biography
Paul Reubens was an American actor, writer, film producer, game show host, and comedian. Born on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York, he joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s, where he began his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. He is best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, which he developed and portrayed in various performances. Reubens' work with Pee-wee Herman led to a successful HBO special and a show that ran for five sold-out months. He appeared in numerous public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee Herman, becoming an instant cult figure.
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Career overview
Paul Reubens began his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor, joining the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s. He developed a character that he had been working on for years, which eventually became the basis for a show. The Pee-wee Herman Show, which Reubens starred in, ran for five sold-out months and was later adapted into a successful HBO special.
As a result of his success with The Pee-wee Herman Show, Reubens became an instant cult figure, and he went on to commit fully to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee for the next decade. This marked a significant period in Reubens' career, during which he gained widespread recognition and acclaim.
Reubens' career as an actor spanned many years and numerous projects, with over 137 known credits. His early work with The Groundlings and his development of the Pee-wee Herman character laid the foundation for his subsequent success in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Frank Welker
2 shared titles
Jeff Bennett
2 shared titles
Shelley Duvall
2 shared titles
Michael Richards
2 shared titles
Tony Cox
2 shared titles
Glenn Shadix
2 shared titles
Lynne Marie Stewart
2 shared titles
Suzanne Kent
2 shared titles
Fred Tatasciore
2 shared titles
Adam Devine
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Pee-wee as HimselfPee-wee as Himself · Executive Producer
DEVOThe House from... · In Memory OfThe World According to Allee Willis
Quiz Lady
Celebrity Wheel of FortuneCrack: Cocaine, Corruption & ConspiracyThe Crown with a Shadow
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
What We Do in the Shadows
The ConnersMosaicMinecraft: Story Mode
DC's Legends of TomorrowTo Tell the TruthTo Tell the TruthGigglefudge USA!Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Accidental LoveO.W.C.A. FilesRobot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical FriendshipAbove and Beyond
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonGothamStar Wars RebelsPenn Zero: Part-Time HeroPenn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The BlacklistThe Smurfs 2Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt MenaceTom and Jerry's Giant AdventureTales from the Warner Bros. Lot
Comedy Bang! Bang!TRON: UprisingBeauty Is EmbarrassingRobot Chicken: DC Comics Special
Bob's BurgersKung Fu Panda: Legends of AwesomenessPortlandiaThe SmurfsWWE WrestleMania XXVII
ConanAdventure TimeLife During WartimeGavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
The Jay Leno Show
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!ChowderPushing DaisiesDirtReno 911!: Miami
30 RockCampus LadiesRe-AnimatedThe Tripper
American Dad!American Dad!Hopeless Pictures
Best Week EverTom Goes to the MayorTeacher's Pet
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Reno 911!Mayor of the Sunset StripOvernight101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Rugrats: Babies in ToylandThe GrooveniansThe Groovenians
BlowYou Don't Know Jack
South of Heaven, West of Hell
Mystery Men
Doctor Dolittle
Ally McBealBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasBuddy
Everybody Loves RaymondMatildaDunston Checks InE! True Hollywood Story
Serial Mom · Thanks
Late Night with Conan O'BrienThe Nightmare Before Christmas
Full filmography
- Pee-wee as Himself (2025) as Self
- Pee-wee as Himself (2025) Executive Producer
- DEVO (2024) as Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
- The House from... (2024) In Memory Of
- The World According to Allee Willis (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Quiz Lady (2023) as Francine's Crush
- Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- The Crown with a Shadow (2021) as Oliver (voice)
- The Holiday Movies That Made Us (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019) as Paul
- The Conners (2018) as Sandy Bitensky
- Mosaic (2018) as JC Schiffer
- Minecraft: Story Mode (2018) as Ivor (voice)
- DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) as Dybbuk (voice)
- To Tell the Truth (2016) as Self - Disguised Contestant
- To Tell the Truth (2016) as Self - Panelist
- Gigglefudge USA! (2016) as Self
- Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016) as Pee-wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016) Writer
- Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016) Producer
- Accidental Love (2015) as Edwin
- O.W.C.A. Files (2015) as Parenthesis (voice)
- Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship (2015) as The Riddler (voice)
- Above and Beyond (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Gotham (2014) as Elijah Van Dahl
- Star Wars Rebels (2014) as RX-24 (voice)
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014) as The Milkman (voice)
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014) as The Butterman (voice)
- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered (2014) as Bat-Mite (voice)
- Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise (2014) as The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
- The Blacklist (2013) as Mr. Vargas
- The Smurfs 2 (2013) as Jokey Smurf (voice)
- Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace (2013) as Irv (voice)
- Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure (2013) as Screwy Squirrel (voice)
- Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (2013) as Self
- The Final Moments of Karl Brant (2013) as Bennett Ferryman
- Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012) as Pee-Wee Herman
- TRON: Uprising (2012) as Pavel
- Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012) as Self
- Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special (2012) as The Riddler (voice)
- Bob's Burgers (2011) as Pat (voice)
- Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011) as Ju-Long (voice)
- Portlandia (2011) as Weirdos' Lawyer
- The Smurfs (2011) as Jokey Smurf (voice)
- WWE WrestleMania XXVII (2011) as Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
- The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway (2011) as Pee-wee Herman
- The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway (2011) Writer
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Adventure Time (2010) as Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)
- Life During Wartime (2010) as Andy Kornbluth
- Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole (2010) as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
- The Jay Leno Show (2009) as Self
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008) as Bat-Mite (voice)
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007) as The Moon
- Chowder (2007) as Reuben (voice)
- Pushing Daisies (2007) as Oscar Vibenius
- Dirt (2007) as Chuck Lafoon
- Reno 911!: Miami (2007) as Sir Terrence
- Area 57 (2007) as The Alien
- 30 Rock (2006) as Gerhardt
- Campus Ladies (2006)
- Re-Animated (2006) as Golly Gopher (voice)
- The Tripper (2006) as Frank Baker
- American Dad! (2005)
- American Dad! (2005) as Wyatt Borden (voice)
- Hopeless Pictures (2005)
- Best Week Ever (2004)
- Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004) as Paul (voice)
- Teacher's Pet (2004) as Dennis (voice)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Reno 911! (2003) as Rick
- Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003) as Self
- Overnight (2003) as Self
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Rugrats: Babies in Toyland (2002) as Hermie the Elf (voice)
- The Groovenians (2002) as Jet/The Bubbie
- The Groovenians (2002) as Jet / The Bubble (voice)
- Blow (2001) as Derek Foreal
- You Don't Know Jack (2001) as Troy Stevens
- South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000) as Arvid Henry
- Mystery Men (1999) as Spleen
- Doctor Dolittle (1998) as Raccoon (voice)
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Louis
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) as Fife (voice)
- Buddy (1997) as Professor Spatz
- Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) as Russell
- Matilda (1996) as FBI Agent
- Dunston Checks In (1996) as Buck LaFarge
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self
- Serial Mom (1994) Thanks
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) as Lock (voice)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Batman Returns (1992) as Penguin's Father
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) as Amilyn
- Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! (1990) as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
- Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary (1989) as Pee-wee Herman
- Murphy Brown (1988) as Andrew J. Lansing III
- Moonwalker (1988) as Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
- Big Top Pee-wee (1988) as Pee-wee Herman
- Big Top Pee-wee (1988) Producer
- Big Top Pee-wee (1988) Writer
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) as Pee-wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) Director
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) Executive Producer
- Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) Writer
- Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie (1988) as Pee-wee Herman
- Dolly (1987) as Pee-wee Herman
- It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration (1987) as Pee-wee Herman
- Back to the Beach (1987) as Pee-Wee Herman
- The Thrill Can Kill (1987) as Pee-Wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) as Pee-wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) Writer
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) Director
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) Producer
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) Creator
- Flight of the Navigator (1986) as Max (voice)
- 227 (1985) as Pee-Wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) as Pee-wee Herman
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) Writer
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) Set Decoration
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985) as Pee-Wee Herman
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Pee-wee Herman
- Pinocchio (1984) as Pinocchio
- Meatballs: Part II (1984) as Albert
- Cheeseball Presents (1984)
- Cheeseball Presents (1984) as Pee-Wee Herman
- Likely Stories Vol. 2 (1983)
- The Paragon of Comedy (1983) as Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Pinocchio
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Guest Interviewee
- Madame's Place (1982) as Pee Wee Herman
- Lily for President? (1982) as Pee Wee Herman
- Pandemonium (1982) as Johnson
- Twilight Theatre (1982) as Pee Wee Herman
- Nice Dreams (1981) as Howie Hamburger Dude
- The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) as Pee-wee Herman
- The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) Writer
- The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) Director
- The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) Executive Producer
- The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981) Stage Director
- Dream on! (1981)
- The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980) as Freaky Frankenstone
- The Blues Brothers (1980) as Waiter
- The Frankenstones (1980) as Freaky Frankenstone (voice)
- Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980) as Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
- Midnight Madness (1980) as Pinball City Proprietor
- All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special (1980) as Self
- Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980) as Cafe Counter Guy
- Pray TV (1980) as Jack Chudnowski
- Working Stiffs (1979)
- Mork & Mindy (1978) as Dickie Nimitz
- School, Girls, and You! (1978) as Wally Bile
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Pee-Wee Herman - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts (1975)
- The Brotherhood (1968) as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Pee-wee Herman - Presenter
- Twilight Park as Carny/Mime