Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens dead at 70

Paul Reubens, the American actor and comedian best known for his creation and portrayal of Pee-wee Herman, has died at the age of 70, six years after being diagnosed with cancer.

The actor’s death was confirmed in a statement posted to Instagram: “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.

“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.”

Additionally, a statement from Reubens himself was posted to Instagram, in which he apologised for not publicly announcing his cancer diagnosis. He wrote: “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”

Reubens first created the character of Pee-wee Herman back in 1978, and he later appeared in his own show (The Pee-wee Herman Show) in 1981. His final appearance as the character was in Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, which released on Netflix in 2016.

As the BBC reports, tributes to the actor have been flooding social media. Tim Burton, who directed Pee-wee's Big Adventure, posted to Instagram: “Shocked and saddened. I’ll never forget how Paul helped me at the beginning of my career. It would not have happened without his support. He was a great artist. I’ll miss him.”

American TV host Conan O’Brien tweeted: “No tweet can capture the magic, generosity, artistry, and devout silliness of Paul Reubens. Everyone I know received countless nonsensical memes from Paul on their birthday, and I mean EVERYONE. His surreal comedy and unrelenting kindness were a gift to us all. Damn, this hurts.”

Here at GAMINGbible, our thoughts go out to Reubens’ friends and family at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.