Paul Reubens, known as the beloved Pee-wee Herman, spent his final months helping to create a documentary about his life, never revealing that he was seriously ill. The actor died in 2023 at age 70 after privately battling cancer for several years, a fact that even the film’s director did not know until after his passing.
The two-part HBO documentary Pee-wee as Himself came to life after Reubens sat for more than 40 hours of interviews with filmmaker Matt Wolf. Together, they reflected on his unique career, from childhood memories to the highs and lows of fame. But throughout the process, Reubens kept his cancer diagnosis hidden, even from the director he had grown close to.
Paul Reubens’ cancer diagnosis
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Matt Wolf shared that he had sensed something was off in their last conversation. He was scheduled to conduct a final interview with Reubens just days after his death, but had no idea it would be the last. Only a few close friends knew about Reubens’ condition; the public, along with Wolf, learned of his passing at the same time.
Despite his illness, Reubens remained focused on the documentary. He was eager to tell his story in his own words and took an active role in shaping how it would unfold. He spoke about his early career, the creation of Pee-wee Herman, and the impact of fame, sharing some difficult moments, including his arrest in 1991 and subsequent legal troubles in 2001.
‘Pee-wee as Himself’ documentary
The second part of the film provides a detailed description of these chapters. Matt Wolf hoped to explore more with Reubens in their final planned interview. He had wanted to reflect on the entire journey they had taken together on camera, how Reubens felt about reliving these experiences, and what he had discovered about himself through it all. But the opportunity never came.
After Reubens’ death, Wolf began revisiting the extensive transcripts of their interviews. In those pages, he found the closing words spoken by Reubens. He described himself as a “vessel” for everything he had loved and seen growing up, proud to have shared that through his work. The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.