Farewell Pee-wee Herman: remember Paul Reubens' story in photos

Born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27th, 1952 in Peekskill, New York, Paul Reubens was an iconic, incomparable, and much-loved entertainer. He was an actor, comedian, writer, and producer who rose to fame in the 1980s.

Growing up in Sarasota, Florida, Reubens enjoyed attending the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuses. In elementary school, he had his first acting role in the play 'A Thousand Clowns.' During high school, he became the president of the National Thespian Society. He also performed in plays at the Asolo Theatre.

In 1970, Reubens began performing in comedy clubs and had multiple appearances on 'The Gong Show.' He joined an improv comedy group called 'The Groundlings' and it was during this time that the character of 'Pee-wee Herman' was born.

The childlike character of 'Pee-wee Herman' was named after a 'Pee Wee' brand harmonica Reubens owned as a child. The name 'Herman' came from a high energy young boy Reubens knew when he was young. The character with the distinct voice was initially created as a cringe-worthy stand up comedian who would never make it big.

Reubens lost a role on the show to comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Following this rejection, he channelled his disappointment into developing 'The Pee-wee Herman Show' which was a great success and enjoyed a five month run. 'Pee-wee Herman' also gave his audiences his famous catch phrase, 'I know you are but what am I?'

In 1985, 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' was released to great approval. The success of the film led to Reubens being offered his own TV series for children which would air on Saturday mornings.

The colourful and imaginative program was an instant success and was watched and enjoyed by children and adults. 'Pee-wee' lived in a world with human friends but also inanimate talking objects that he would interact with.

While working on the TV show, Reubens simultaneously worked on the movie sequel, 'Big Top Pee-wee' in 1988. Following the filming of the fifth season of the TV series, Reubens took time off in 1990 to recover from years of hard work and burn-out.

In July 1991, while Reubens was on sabbatical, he was arrested for lewd conduct in an adult movie theatre. The charge and public exposure that followed led Reubens to retreat from public life.

Slowly, Reubens began to reappear on screen. In 1995, he was cast in a recurring role on 'Murphy Brown' and he started to feel that he wanted to work in his field again.

In 1999, Reubens joined an all-star cast for the superhero comedy 'Mystery Men.' While the film was not a box-office success, it was well-received by critics, and fans could see Reubens enjoying himself on screen again.

Reubens reprised his role as 'Pee-wee' in a live show that had successful runs in Los Angeles and on Broadway.

Paul Reubens starred alongside Joe Manganiello in this sequel to 'Big Top Pee-wee.' The film was the third and final film in the series and was Reubens' last film prior to his death.

Reubens has kept his personal life largely private over the years. He had a relationship with actress Debi Mazar in 1993 and has credited her with helping him get over the depression that followed his arrest and resulting damage to his career. He was not married and did not have any children at the time of his death.

Reubens was battling cancer for six years and kept his illness private until his death. In a statement published on his Facebook page after his death, the actor apologized to his fans for not sharing details of his illness but expressed his love for his fans and for his art.

Reubens is being remembered for his comedic talent and the loss is being felt across the entertainment world. His originality, resilience, and his unrelenting commitment to his character and craft will be enjoyed in his body of work for decades to come.