PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTUTRE Director Tim Burton and More Pay Tribute to Paul Reubens

Yesterday we learned the tragic news that Paul Reubens, who was best known as Pee-wee Herman, passed away of cancer at the age of 70. As a longtime fan of Pee-wee and someone who grew up watching his films and Pee-wee’s Playhouse, it was rough to hear that he’s no longer with us.

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure director Tim Burton has since paid tribute to Reubens on social media:

“Shocked and saddened. I’ll never forget how Paul helped me at the beginning of my career. It would not have happened without his support. He was a great artist. I’ll miss him.”

That note came along with a behind-the-scenes photo from the classic ‘80s film. You can check it out below.

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A post shared by Tim Burton (@timburton)

Reubens appeared in three of Burton’s films over the years and in addition to Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Reubens voiced Lock in The Nightmare Before Christmas, and he also played the father of Danny DeVito’s Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin character in 1992’s Batman Returns.

Reubens previously praised Burton and when asked why he chose Burton to direct Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, he said:

“I think it was the wallpaper in Frankenweenie, in the second shot of the movie. From the first minute of his film, I could tell that he was somebody who was very interested in style. He brought style to something, and a lot of young directors aren’t there yet. A lot of people who have directed for long careers still don’t have much style. So, I could tell that he had a style, and that he understood production design and art direction. There was a lot of stuff about that first film that felt perfect to me.”

And it really did turn out to be such a wonder first film for Burton and Reubens, one that I always enjoy watching!

Other actors to pay tribute include Natasha Lyonne, who got her start on television at age 6 as a member of the Playhouse Gang on Pee-wee’s Playhouse:

Love you so much, Paul. One in all time. Thank you for my career & your forever friendship all these years & for teaching us what a true original is. ♥️♥️💔 #PaulReubens #PeeWeeHerman ♥️ pic.twitter.com/GMcBaEgWix

— natasha lyonne (@nlyonne) July 31, 2023

Then there’s S. Epatha Merkerson who worked alongside Reubens on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. She said to Deadline: “I always called him Pablo. I will truly miss my friend. We met at my audition for Pee-wee’s Playhouse. I did not know of the character…my nephew Sean told me who he was. However, when I walked into the audition I was introduced to a man named Paul Reubens in cut-off jeans, with long hair and a goatee. He looked like a 60s reject! I think Paul saw the confusion on my face and he teased me all through the audition.”

“When I left there I thought, ‘I’ll never get that job!’ I couldn’t concentrate, he kept making me laugh! Well, fast forward to the first day of shooting, he came over to me in costume and I realized then that he knew all along that I had NO idea who Pee-wee Herman was. We became fast friends. I’m gonna miss you, Pablo!”