Was Paul Reubens married and how did he die? All about Pee-wee’s personal life ahead of documentary release

All eyes are on Paul Reubens – the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman – following the news of the documentary ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse: Pee-wee As Himself’ set to air on HBO on May 23, 2025. People have a lot of questions regarding Reubens’ life, including some details around his marriage and circumstances surrounding his death.

Paul Reubens was never married. On July 30, 2023, he died due to cancer after privately fighting the disease for six years.

His estate released a statement, as per NBC News, that stated,

“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.”

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A career shaped by a singular persona

The character of Pee-wee Herman was crafted by Reubens as early as the 1970's and later, he became an actor in the series 'The Pee-wee Herman Show.' He also played the lead in 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' as well as the CBS children’s series 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse' which was aired from 1986 to 1990.

The character was famous for his whimsical and broad appeal peculiar traits, making him loved by all age groups.

Pee-wee had an incredible presence yet Reubens was said to have been very private regarding his life off-screen. HBO as of late has come out revealing that their upcoming documentary is going to explore “‘a window into his never-before-discussed personal life' and will include as well ‘unfiltered interviews’ from Reubens prior to his death.”

“Over the course of 40 hours of interviews spanning a decade, Reubens reflects on his life and career, addressing personal topics and public controversies.” - The Hollywood Reporter

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Was Paul Reubens ever married?

At the time of passing, Paul Reubens was not married and had never been known to the public as married. His relationship history is rather sparse beyond the fact that he dated actress Debi Mazar in the 1990s. He did not discuss much relating to his romantic life. Generally, Reubens preferred to keep his personal life away from the view of most people and did not share much about his private life affairs.

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Death from a private battle with Cancer

At the age of 70, Reubens died in Los Angeles. No one knew that he was waging a six-year battle with cancer. It was only when his estate made his death certificate, was it revealed that he had cancer.

Posthumously, lots of fans and fellow comedians acknowledged Reubens’ contributions towards comedy and especially his creativity, and the unforgettable mark he has left on children’s comedy and television.

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Legal controversy in the 1990s

Paul Reubens' career suffered significantly after being arrested for indecent exposure at a Sarasota, Florida adult movie theater in 1991. He was placed on community service as part of the sentence he received after pleading no contest. His career came to a stand still and CBS even stopped airing reruns of Pee-wee’s Playhouse.

Unlike many who would have shunned the limelight following such controversy, Reubens returned in the late 90s, featuring in films like Blow. He also made numerous appearances on television. In 2016, he co-wrote and starred in a Netflix original film, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.

Per HBO, the new documentary will tackle the controversies head on, and will incorporate Reubens’ thoughts on how the circumstances influenced his life and career.

The film will explore “his meteoric rise, shocking fall, and triumphant return,” while addressing the “rumors, vilification and the vitriol of the media,” - HBO Documentary Synopsis via The Hollywood Reporter

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A lasting legacy

The complex legacy of Paul Reubens’ life is one that marks innovation in children’s entertainment, character work, and a personal life, which, despite public scrutiny, remained largely untouched. The documentary hopes to present a more full image of the innovative legend that was both the man and the bowtie.

Pee-wee’s Playhouse: Pee-wee As Himself airs on May 23, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on both HBO and Max in two parts.