Paul Reubens: podcast appearances and interviews

Paul Reubens was an American actor and comedian best known for creating and portraying the character Pee-wee Herman. Born in Peekskill, New York, and raised in both Oneonta, New York, and Sarasota, Florida, he began his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor with the Los Angeles-based troupe the Groundlings in the 1970s. Reubens developed the Pee-wee Herman character during this time, and after a failed audition for Saturday Night Live, he debuted a stage show featuring Pee-wee in 1981. The character rapidly gained cult popularity, leading to the production of the feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985, directed by Tim Burton, which was both a commercial and critical success. The character also starred in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse from 1986 to 1990, earning 15 Emmy Awards. Reubens continued to act in various television shows and films, including Mystery Men and Blow, later giving interviews as himself rather than as Pee-wee. He revived the Pee-wee character in the 2010s with stage performances and the Netflix film Pee-wee's Big Holiday. His career faced significant challenges following his arrest for indecent exposure in 1991 and later legal issues related to child pornography allegations, which he denied. Despite these setbacks, Reubens maintained a lasting influence through his work and the enduring popularity of Pee-wee Herman. He passed away in July 2023 from cancer.