Paul Reubens, who was best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, has died of cancer. He was 70.
His death was announced on his verified Facebook page, where his cancer battle was also publicized.
"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," the post read.
A quote from Paul prior to his death was included in the post. "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," he said.
Paul first came to prominence in the 1980s after originating Pee-wee Herman as a childlike adult character in a stage show that was eventually turned into an HBO special. The character became a household name thanks to a series of films and a TV show, beginning with the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985. His five-season CBS series Pee-wee's Playhouse ran from 1986 to 1990. Paul's last role as Pee-wee was the 2016 Netflix film, Pee-wee's Big Holiday.
Beginning in the 1990s, Paul began a successful acting career outside of performing as Pee-wee. His notable roles included guest starring on Murphy Brown (which garnered him an Emmy nomination) and in the 2001 film Blow. In total, Paul received three primetime Emmy nominations (with two achieved for Pee-wee Herman projects) and won two daytime Emmys (from 17 nominations).
During his career, Paul faced two notable arrests. In 1991, he was arrested for indecent exposure in Sarasota, Florida. According to the New York Times, he pled no contest, resulting in no criminal record but was ordered to pay a fine and complete community service.
In 2004, according to the Los Angeles Times, he pled guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge and was placed on probation after a child pornography charge was dropped against him following a police raid of his home.