Herman created Pee-wee when he was part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s. The live Pee-wee Herman Show debuted at a Los Angeles theater in 1981 and was a success with both kids during matinees and adults at a midnight show. HBO would air the show as a special. The character with his too-tight gray suit, white chunky loafers and red bow tie was best known for the film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and the CBS series Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which ran for five seasons and earned 22 Emmys.
Paul Reubens
March 29, 2024
Editor on Duty: Mark K. Miller