Paul Reubens, best remembered for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, which he created, left a huge impact on the entertainment world. The funnyman had a very successful career, garnering fifteen Daytime Emmy Awards with his morning children’s program, Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Regretfully, the actor passed away in 2023 after his battle with cancer.
However, some years after his death, Ruben has continued to remain in the spotlight. In an unexpected development, a recently released documentary that centered on his life has unveiled a highly private side of the late funnyman, which he kept hidden throughout his career.
Paul Reubens reveals his gay relationship in new docuseries, ‘Pee-wee as Himself’
In the new documentary series Pee-wee as Himself, directed by Matt Wolf, the actor revealed his sexual orientation as a gay man in a number of on-camera interviews. The series, which debuted on January 23 at the Sundance Film Festival, provided insights into Reuben’s relationship with a man named Guy, whom he met at a party at his alma mater, California Institute of the Arts. He explained that although he had no intention of being in a relationship, he became deeply attached to Guy.
The late comedian added that the love was so intense that he became emotionally involved with his partner and adopted some of his mannerisms, which ultimately served as the basis for some of Pee-wee’s most famous catchphrases.
Paul Reubens’ says watching his ex-lover die of AIDS traumatized him
Reuben explained that when he eventually parted ways with his then-partner, he made the decision to return to the closet and focus more on his career and also ensured that words of his sexuality never got out into the open.
He noted that despite the split, he maintained contact with Guy and even visited him on his deathbed while he battled with AIDS. Speaking about the experience, the actor explained that it was really traumatizing and frightening for him.