31 July 2023 , 17:09
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Actor Paul Reubens has died at the age of 70 from cancer an official statement has confirmed.
A statement on his Instagram page read: "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."
As well as an image of the star, there was a quote from Paul which he penned prior to his death. He told his fans: "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."
Actor Paul Reubens had been secretly fighting cancer for six years (Getty Images North America)
Fans quickly posted messages of appreciation and condolence on the post. One user wrote: "This is so sad. Rest easy legend, and thx for all the fun and secret words," while model Karen Elson added: "Oh Paul. My heart breaks. Thank you for the joy, the laughs and making me smile on my birthday with your sweet messages without fail every year."
Others described him as a "comedy legend" while many described how devastated they were by the news. "Devastated. An icon. A savior. Made space for weird kids growing up into a true hell that humor would help us navigate. Thank you Paul. Thank you Pee Wee," read another tribute.
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Cher lead tributes as Pee-wee star Paul Reubens dies
Paul's career began in the 1970s after he joined comedy troupe the Groundlings in Los Angeles. There, he worked as an improv comedian as well as a stage actor. He later launched The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1980.
Paul Reubens on location filming Pee-wee's Big Holiday in 2015 (GC Images)In 1985, he teamed up with Tim Burton for Pee-wee's Big Adventure, which was the fictional character's debut on film. He often revisited the character for a number of spin-offs.
In 2016, he released Pee-wee's Big Holiday on Netflix. As well as being on the small screen, The Pee-wee Herman Show made it to Broadway, with a live instalment in 2010. The show was filmed for HBO and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.
Other projects he was part of included Kinka Usher’s superhero comedy Mystery Men and Ted Demme’s biographical crime drama titled Blow. He also made appearances in a number of successful television series including 30 Rock, The Blacklist and Reno 911!