The death of Paul Reubens, aka Pee-wee Herman, at 70 shocked many in the entertainment world when it was announced July 31. According to various published reports, Reubens waged a private battle with cancer for years.
Pee-wee Herman made me laugh. Everything about Reuben’s iconic child-like character made me smile. Tim Burton’s celebrated movie, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” made me chuckle and laugh like a little kid. Pee-wee embarked on a wild U.S. adventure to recover his beloved stolen bicycle in that one, even stopping in San Antonio to check out a clue that it was hidden in the Alamo.
I liked Reubens, but I never got into his TV show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which ran from 1986 to 1990 on CBS. I wasn’t really into sitcoms at the time.
I preferred Reubens’ feature work outside the Pee-wee character in Burton’s animated fantasy “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), directed by Henry Selick. Reubens provided the voice of Lock, one-third of Burton’s Lock, Shock and Barrel troublemakers.
He also played a supporting role in Ted Demme’s gritty drug-running drama “Blow” in 2001.
I never met the guy, but his Pee-wee Herman will remain in our memories for a long time.
Paul Reubens was very endearing to many people, especially this film critic. I’m going to miss him.
