Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dead at 70

Actor Paul Reubens, best known for playing the comedic character Pee-wee Herman, has died from cancer. He was 70. 

His death was announced Monday on his Instagram: "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."

The post states that Ruebens privately fought cancer for years. It also includes a statement from Ruebens himself, who said he loved all of his fans and apologized for not going public with his diagnosis.

Reubens co-wrote and starred in the 1985 Tim Burton film "Pee-wee's Big Adventure." He went on to create and star in the 1986 to 1990 TV series "Pee-wee’s Playhouse." Reubens revisited the character several times over the years, including in 2016 with the Netflix movie "Pee-wee's Big Holiday."

He also had roles in "The Blues Brothers," "The Smurfs" and "The Blacklist." 

Even with his happy-go-lucky character, his life was marked by a darker side. In 1991, Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult theater in Florida. In 2002, he was charged with a misdemeanor of possessing images that were characterized as child pornography. The charges were later dropped and he pleaded guilty to a less serious obscenity charge.

Reubens requested donations to be made to Stand Up to Cancer or organizations supporting dementia care in honor of his late parents, Judy and Milton Rubenfeld.

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