LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Paul Reubens, the actor behind the beloved children’s character 'Pee-wee Herman', who died at 70, had a meteoric rise to fame in the 1980s. He created and starred in the hit TV show 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse', which ran from 1986 to 1990 and won several Emmy Awards.
The comedian, who won two day time Emmy awards, is said to have died after a six-year secret battle with cancer as per Daily Mail. He also appeared in several movies, including 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' (1985) and 'Batman Returns' (1992). He was widely regarded as one of the most original and innovative comedians of his generation.
Why was Paul Reubens arrested in 1991?
Paul Reubens' career came crashing down on July 26, 1991, when he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theatre in Sarasota, Florida. According to the police report, Reubens was caught masturbating in public while watching a series of XXX-rated films. He was charged with a misdemeanor and faced up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He also allegedly offered to perform as Pee-wee for a children’s benefit if the police dropped the charge, but they refused. It was also reported that police didn't know at the time that they had arrested Reubens. He was identified by a Florida reporter on a department-issued arrests sheet from the previous evening, and shortly after, his mugshot was prominently shown in publications throughout the nation.
It sparked a media frenzy. Reubens became the target of jokes, ridicule, and outrage from fans and critics alike. His image as a wholesome entertainer for kids was shattered. CBS pulled the reruns of 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse' from its schedule. Toys 'R' Us removed Pee-wee merchandise from its shelves. Disney-MGM Studios erased Pee-wee’s voice from its studio tour as per Yahoo. However he denied the charges in a statement, and his lawyers shared, "He does a lot of things with kids over the world, and his career will be over when the story runs," Dannheiser told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Dannheiser said Reubens had been in town vacationing. He added that detectives did not realize they had arrested a celebrity until after Ruebens was taken to jail, where he voluntarily told them. "I don't know why he did that," Dannheiser said.
He slowly rebuilt his reputation as an actor and comedian
He maintained his innocence and claimed that he was set up by the police as part of a sting operation. Reubens’s arrest effectively ended his career as 'Pee-wee Herman' for more than a decade. He reportedly did not appear in any films or TV shows until 1999 when he had a cameo in 'Mystery Men'. He slowly rebuilt his reputation as an actor and comedian, appearing in projects such as Blow (2001), Reno 911! (2003), The Blacklist (2014), and Gotham (2016). In 2002, Reubens was charged with possession of child pornography but maintained that the images were part of a vintage erotica collection. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge.
'I felt like people are laughing at me'
"I mean that didn't seem like a crime to me. It didn't seem like anyone's business but my own," the actor recalled, reiterating his claim that he "did not expose himself," he reflected on his 1991 arrest on NBC in 2004. "It was kind of like a mortifying kind of situation where I felt like people are laughing at me," said Reubens before adding "I'm a professional comedian. I've never claimed to be able to take it as good as a dish it out, ever. I mean I'm just sensitive." He also revived his Pee-wee persona in several stage shows and a Netflix movie, 'Pee-wee’s Big Holiday' (2016).
