Netflix Remembers Paul Ruebens’ Iconic Pee-wee, as American Comedy Stalwart Passes Away at 70

Every generation has their comic stalwarts who drove a new wave of widely loved
comedy. From Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean to Dan White’s Larry the Cable Guy, we
have enjoyed the comedic relief that their characters have provided us. But as
time flies, the same fans are often met with the sad news of their favorite
character passing away. And this time, it was the iconic Pee-Wee Herman played
by American comedian Paul Reubens. Reubens, who started his career in the 70s,
dwelled in improvisational comedy and stage acting. He soon embraced the
fictional character as a whole, starring in several Pee-Wee specials. 

In a touching tribute, Netflix posted a clip from an interaction between Phil
Rosenthal and Reubens. Rosenthal said, “Pee-Wee is one of the greatest
inventions in the history of comedy. I just wanted to say that while we have
you.” He was visibly an ardent fan of the character, expressing his love to
Reubens while he battling cancer. In the special remembrance video from 2022,
the American actor paid a special tribute to Rosenthal’s father, Max. 

> “Pee-Wee is one of the greatest inventions in the history of comedy. I just
> wanted to say that while we have you.”
> 
> Phil Rosenthal saying this to Paul Reubens in 2022 feels especially poignant
> today. pic.twitter.com/EnEH6fUfUH [https://t.co/EnEH6fUfUH]
> 
> — Netflix (@netflix) July 31, 2023
> [https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1686086779030626304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



Herman came live on screen in the 80s, getting his own HBO special after the
character hit fame. Starring in Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Reubens’ fictional
character won him an Emmy too. Netflix even released a special in 2016, titled
Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday. It is about Pee-Wee’s first-ever holiday trip to New York
to celebrate a friend’s birthday. 

ALSO READ: Every Netflix Title Starring David Arnold You Can Watch To Celebrate
the Amazing Life of The Comedian
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-every-netflix-title-starring-david-arnold-you-can-watch-to-celebrate-the-amazing-of-the-comedian/]

And as the fans remembered this actor, they shared their heartfelt memories of
enjoying this comic character on screen.


NETIZENS REMEMBER ALL THE LAUGHTER AND FUN

The netizens on Twitter came together to give their condolences, remembering all
the legendary lines of Pee-Wee. They rightly expressed their love, trying to
capture the magic of the enigmatic comedian. Several friends and family
remembered spending time with him, and all the happy memories that followed it.

> One of the patron saints of all misfitted, weird, maladjusted, wonderful,
> miraculous oddities. https://t.co/4TJAObpO2M [https://t.co/4TJAObpO2M]
> 
> — Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) July 31, 2023
> [https://twitter.com/RealGDT/status/1686075908774379521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



Another friend remembered the time back in college because of how beautifully
their friendship transpired into something so serene.

> Paul and I first met in 1973 at Cal Arts. We remained friends for the next 50
> years. Not day to day. Just the kind of friend that you can text out of
> nowhere or have a 3 hour lunch with. And don't get me started on the birthday
> texts-he sent them ALL DAY. I feel sick. pic.twitter.com/GEX9oXuiG1
> [https://t.co/GEX9oXuiG1]
> 
> — Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) July 31, 2023
> [https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1686071483758776320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



Recalling one of the scenes from his show, a fan shared a GIF.

> pic.twitter.com/WuHbYbDCvb [https://t.co/WuHbYbDCvb]
> 
> — Love, Danny 🍂 (@DannyWxo) July 31, 2023
> [https://twitter.com/DannyWxo/status/1686087031653330945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



Another netizen thanked the actor for all the good times he gave them.

> “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.”-
> Paul Reubens
> We loved you right back, Paul… & can't thank you enough for the lifetime of
> laughter!#RIP [https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
> pic.twitter.com/u7Ycx0SbTw [https://t.co/u7Ycx0SbTw]
> 
> — Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) July 31, 2023
> [https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1686089773826588672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



Do you love Paul Reubens’ fantastic portrayal of the Pee-Wee that we all grew to
love? Comment below and share your thoughts.

Rishika Bhardwaj

Comment

Netflix Remembers Paul Ruebens’ Iconic Pee-wee, as American Comedy Stalwart Passes Away at 70 - Netflix Junkie

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Rishika Bhardwaj is an entertainment reporter at Netflix Junkie. She has a knack for giving unbiased reviews and is always excited about providing readers with both sides of a coin. Although she is new to the scene, her love for crime and dark comedy dramas goes back a long way. Rishika previously contributed as a news reporter for the Indian Diaspora at India Abroad and also explored the concept of gender journalism by working with Network for Women in Media for one article. When she is not busy penning down insightful and engaging articles, she can be found drawing Mithila paintings.

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Netflix Remembers Paul Ruebens’ Iconic Pee-wee, as American Comedy Stalwart Passes Away at 70 - netflix-junkie

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Every generation has their comic stalwarts who drove a new wave of widely loved comedy. From Rowan Atkinson&#8217;s Mr. Bean to Dan White&#8217;s Larry the Cable Guy, we have enjoyed the comedic relief that their characters have provided us. But as time flies, the same fans are often met with the sad news of their favorite character passing away. And this time, it was the iconic Pee-Wee Herman played by American comedian Paul Reubens. Reubens, who started his career in the 70s, dwelled in improvisational comedy and stage acting. He soon embraced the fictional character as a whole, starring in several Pee-Wee specials. 
In a touching tribute, Netflix posted a clip from an interaction between Phil Rosenthal and Reubens. Rosenthal said, “Pee-Wee is one of the greatest inventions in the history of comedy. I just wanted to say that while we have you.” He was visibly an ardent fan of the character, expressing his love to Reubens while he battling cancer. In the special remembrance video from 2022, the American actor paid a special tribute to Rosenthal&#8217;s father, Max. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
“Pee-Wee is one of the greatest inventions in the history of comedy. I just wanted to say that while we have you.” 
Phil Rosenthal saying this to Paul Reubens in 2022 feels especially poignant today. <a href="https://t.co/EnEH6fUfUH">pic.twitter.com/EnEH6fUfUH</a>
&mdash; Netflix (@netflix) <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1686086779030626304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Herman came live on screen in the 80s, getting his own HBO special after the character hit fame. Starring in Pee-Wee&#8217;s Playhouse, Reubens&#8217; fictional character won him an Emmy too. Netflix even released a special in 2016, titled Pee-Wee&#8217;s Big Holiday. It is about Pee-Wee&#8217;s first-ever holiday trip to New York to celebrate a friend&#8217;s birthday. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-every-netflix-title-starring-david-arnold-you-can-watch-to-celebrate-the-amazing-of-the-comedian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Every Netflix Title Starring David Arnold You Can Watch To Celebrate the Amazing Life of The Comedian</a>
And as the fans remembered this actor, they shared their heartfelt memories of enjoying this comic character on screen.
<h2>Netizens remember all the laughter and fun</h2>
The netizens on Twitter came together to give their condolences, remembering all the legendary lines of Pee-Wee. They rightly expressed their love, trying to capture the magic of the enigmatic comedian. Several friends and family remembered spending time with him, and all the happy memories that followed it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
One of the patron saints of all misfitted, weird, maladjusted, wonderful, miraculous oddities. <a href="https://t.co/4TJAObpO2M">https://t.co/4TJAObpO2M</a>
&mdash; Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealGDT/status/1686075908774379521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another friend remembered the time back in college because of how beautifully their friendship transpired into something so serene.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Paul and I first met in 1973 at Cal Arts. We remained friends for the next 50 years. Not day to day. Just the kind of friend that you can text out of nowhere or have a 3 hour lunch with. And don&#39;t get me started on the birthday texts-he sent them ALL DAY. I feel sick. <a href="https://t.co/GEX9oXuiG1">pic.twitter.com/GEX9oXuiG1</a>
&mdash; Laraine Newman (@larainenewman) <a href="https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1686071483758776320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Recalling one of the scenes from his show, a fan shared a GIF.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
 <a href="https://t.co/WuHbYbDCvb">pic.twitter.com/WuHbYbDCvb</a>
&mdash; Love, Danny 🍂 (@DannyWxo) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyWxo/status/1686087031653330945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another netizen thanked the actor for all the good times he gave them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
“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.”- Paul Reubens We loved you right back, Paul&#8230; &amp; can&#39;t thank you enough for the lifetime of laughter!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIP</a> <a href="https://t.co/u7Ycx0SbTw">pic.twitter.com/u7Ycx0SbTw</a>
&mdash; Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1686089773826588672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Do you love Paul Reubens&#8217; fantastic portrayal of the Pee-Wee that we all grew to love? Comment below and share your thoughts.

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Life of The Comedian

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA &#8211; OCTOBER 15: Actor Paul Reubens aka &#8220;Pee-wee Herman&#8221; arrive at Spike TV&#8217;s &#8220;SCREAM 2011&#8221; awards held at Universal Studios on October 15, 2011 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Spike TV&#8217;s &#8220;SCREAM 2011&#8221; &#8211; Red Carpet

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Paul Reubens passes away at 70, leaving a legacy of his comic fictional character, Pee-Wee, behind as Netflix reminisces the stalwart comedian

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Netflix Remembers Paul Ruebens’ Iconic Pee-wee, as American Comedy Stalwart Passes Away at 70

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