Cast & creator
Paul Reubens
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, American Dad!
Paul Reubens (August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor, writer, film producer, game show host, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1982 he began appearing in a show about a character he had been developing for years. The show, called The Pee-wee Herman Show, ran for five sold-out months, and HBO produced a successful special about it. Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. His feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by the then-unknown Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success and soon developed into a cult film. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Also known as: Paul Rubenfeld, Pee-wee Herman, Pee Wee Herman, Pee-wee, Pee Wee
94
film credits
68
television credits
141
1944–2025 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (162)
Showing 162 of 162 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
American Dad!
2005American Dad!
Wyatt Borden (voice)
2005
Conan
Self
2010
Saturday Night Live
Pee-Wee Herman - Host
1975Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live
Pee-Wee Herman (uncredited)
1975
The Blacklist
Mr. Vargas
2013
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Bob's Burgers
Pat (voice)
2011
Adventure Time
Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)
2010
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Bat-Mite (voice)
2008
Golden Globe Awards
Pee-wee Herman - Presenter
1944
30 Rock
Gerhardt
2006
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Dybbuk (voice)
2016
Gotham
Elijah Van Dahl
2014
Everybody Loves Raymond
Russell
1996
What We Do in the Shadows
Paul
2019
MTV Video Music Awards
Pee-wee Herman
1984
Reno 911!
Rick
2003
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Lock (voice)
1993
Murphy Brown
Andrew J. Lansing III
1988
Star Wars Rebels
RX-24 (voice)
2014
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Pee-Wee Herman
2012
The Conners
Sandy Bitensky
2018
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Ju-Long (voice)
2011
Ally McBeal
Louis
1997
Portlandia
Weirdos' Lawyer
2011
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant
2021
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
The Moon
2007
To Tell the Truth
Self - Disguised Contestant
2016To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
2016
The Jay Leno Show
Self
2009
Chowder
Reuben (voice)
2007
Mork & Mindy
Dickie Nimitz
1978
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Milkman (voice)
2014Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
The Butterman (voice)
2014
Pushing Daisies
Oscar Vibenius
2007
Best Week Ever
2004
Batman Returns
Penguin's Father
1992
227
Pee-Wee Herman
1985
The Flintstone Comedy Show
Freaky Frankenstone
1980
The Smurfs
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2011
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Paul (voice)
2004
Faerie Tale Theatre
Pinocchio
1982Faerie Tale Theatre
Guest Interviewee
1982
Dirt
Chuck Lafoon
2007
Madame's Place
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Matilda
FBI Agent
1996
The Smurfs 2
Jokey Smurf (voice)
2013
TRON: Uprising
Pavel
2012
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Pee-wee Herman
1986Pee-wee's Playhouse
Writer
1986Pee-wee's Playhouse
Producer
1986Pee-wee's Playhouse
Director
1986Pee-wee's Playhouse
Creator
1986
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Fife (voice)
1997
The Blues Brothers
Waiter
1980
Quiz Lady
Francine's Crush
2023
Mosaic
JC Schiffer
2018
Blow
Derek Foreal
2001
Doctor Dolittle
Raccoon (voice)
1998
The Frankenstones
Freaky Frankenstone (voice)
1980
Dolly
Pee-wee Herman
1987
Minecraft: Story Mode
Ivor (voice)
2018
Tim Burton: Life in the Line
Self (footage)
2025
Campus Ladies
2006
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Amilyn
1992
Flight of the Navigator
Max (voice)
1986
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Self (archive footage)
2020
Pee-wee as Himself
Self
2025Pee-wee as Himself
Executive Producer
2025
Moonwalker
Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)
1988
Mystery Men
Spleen
1999
Accidental Love
Edwin
2015
Serial Mom
Thanks
1994
E! True Hollywood Story
Self
1996
The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship
The Riddler (voice)
2015
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Pee-wee Herman
1985Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Writer
1985Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Set Decoration
1985
Reno 911!: Miami
Sir Terrence
2007
Dunston Checks In
Buck LaFarge
1996
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure
Screwy Squirrel (voice)
2013
Teacher's Pet
Dennis (voice)
2004
LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Batman Be-Leaguered
Bat-Mite (voice)
2014
Big Top Pee-wee
Pee-wee Herman
1988Big Top Pee-wee
Producer
1988Big Top Pee-wee
Writer
1988
Hopeless Pictures
2005
The Tripper
Frank Baker
2006
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Pee-wee Herman
2016Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Writer
2016Pee-wee's Big Holiday
Producer
2016
Cheech & Chong's Next Movie
Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)
1980
Buddy
Professor Spatz
1997
Working Stiffs
1979
Back to the Beach
Pee-Wee Herman
1987
Meatballs: Part II
Albert
1984
Life During Wartime
Andy Kornbluth
2010
Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
Irv (voice)
2013
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
Self (archive footage)
2021
Twilight Park
Carny/Mime
Nice Dreams
Howie Hamburger Dude
1981
Midnight Madness
Pinball City Proprietor
1980
Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Pee-wee Herman
1988Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Director
1988Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Executive Producer
1988Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
Writer
1988
South of Heaven, West of Hell
Arvid Henry
2000
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2003
Re-Animated
Golly Gopher (voice)
2006
Overnight
Self
2003
Gigglefudge USA!
Self
2016
The Brotherhood
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1968
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
The Riddler (voice)
2012
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Pee-wee Herman
1988
The World According to Allee Willis
Self (archive footage)
2024
Area 57
The Alien
2007
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise
The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)
2014
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
Cafe Counter Guy
1980
The Pee-wee Herman Show
Pee-wee Herman
1981The Pee-wee Herman Show
Writer
1981The Pee-wee Herman Show
Director
1981The Pee-wee Herman Show
Executive Producer
1981The Pee-wee Herman Show
Stage Director
1981
Pandemonium
Johnson
1982You Don't Know Jack
Troy Stevens
2001
The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Pee-wee Herman
2011The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway
Writer
2011
The Groovenians
Jet / The Bubble (voice)
2002
Pinocchio
Pinocchio
1984
DEVO
Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)
2024
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
1990
Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
Self
2013
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Self
1980
The Groovenians
Jet/The Bubbie
2002
WWE WrestleMania XXVII
Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)
2011All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
Pee-Wee Herman
1985
It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration
Pee-wee Herman
1987
Pray TV
Jack Chudnowski
1980
Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
Hermie the Elf (voice)
2002
The House from...
In Memory Of
2024Likely Stories Vol. 2
1983
Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)
2010
School, Girls, and You!
Wally Bile
1978
The Crown with a Shadow
Oliver (voice)
2021
Lily for President?
Pee Wee Herman
1982
The Final Moments of Karl Brant
Bennett Ferryman
2013
The Paragon of Comedy
Arnie / Pee-wee Herman
1983
Twilight Theatre
Pee Wee Herman
1982
Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary
Pee-wee Herman
1989
Above and Beyond
Self
2015
Beauty Is Embarrassing
Self
2012
Cheeseball Presents
1984Cheeseball Presents
Pee-Wee Herman
1984Dream on!
1981