‘Pee-wee Herman’ Star Paul Reubens Dies from Cancer

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Paul Reubens, the children’s entertainer best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday after battling cancer. He was 70.

The actor released a posthumous statement via Instagram Monday, apologizing for his secrecy.

“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” Reubens wrote prior to his death. “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,” he concluded.

The “Pee-wee Herman Show” actor began playing the iconic character in 1982, going on to star in “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” “Big Top Pee-Wee” and “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

During Reubens’ break from the character, he was arrested multiple times for allegedly exposing himself at an adult movie theater, possessing marijuana and possessing images that were initially characterized as child pornography.

In 2004, the latter charges were dropped. Reubens pleaded guilty to a lesser obscenity charge at the time.

Reubens did play Pee-wee again, bringing the character to Broadway in 2010. He subsequently co-wrote and starred in “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” on Netflix, with the 2019 film marking his last reprisal of the role onscreen.