Paul Reubens

Biography

Paul Rubenfeld (August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor and comedian, widely known for creating and portraying the character Pee-wee Herman. Born in Peekskill, New York, he grew up in a Jewish family and developed his interest in entertainment at a young age, frequently visiting the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and watching reruns of I Love Lucy. He attended various colleges, including the California Institute of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in Theatre in 1973. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor, developing his Pee-wee character at the Groundlings.