For generations, people laughed along with Pee-wee Herman. However, the silly man with the red bowtie wasn’t born with the stage name that fans came to recognize. In Touch breaks down everything you need to know about the actor who played the beloved star ahead of the two-part HBO docuseries Pee-wee as Himself.

Who Is the Actor That Played Pee-wee Herman?

Paul Reubens was the man behind the grey suit and red bowtie. The late actor, who died in July 2023 following his battle with cancer, brought Pee-wee Herman to life in 1978 when he kicked off his sketch comedy career.

His childhood and interests helped him come up with the stage name, as Pee-wee was a harmonica band and Herman was a lively kid he once knew while growing up.

When Did ‘Pee-wee Herman’ Debut?

Pee-wee first debuted at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles for several months in 1981. The show was an instant hit. HBO later aired a filmed version of the show on its network, helping it reach a wider audience, turning Pee-wee into a nationwide character.

In 1985, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure debuted, which was directed by Tim Burton. In 2019, Paul shared that he was obsessed with Sylvester Stallone during the time that the film’s script was fully written and was inspired by the action star’s confidence to star in his own films. So, when it came to choosing a director for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Paul wasn’t going to greenlight anyone except for Tim.

Following the movie’s massive success, Paul landed his own show, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which aired on CBS between 1986 and 1991.

Everything to Know About ‘Pee-wee as Himself’

Fans will be introduced to Paul as himself, and not his beloved character, in Pee-wee as Himself. The two-part docuseries will feature countless hours of interviews and personal videos Paul took prior to his death.

“Driven by a soul-baring interview with Paul Reubens, the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, PEE-WEE AS HIMSELF is the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never before discussed personal life,” the docuseries’ introduction read in a trailer posted to YouTube on April 23, 2025. “Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self.”

While introducing himself in the trailer, Paul admitted how “weird” it was to be in a documentary-style interview because he was “used to having control of [his] alter ego.”

Later in the clip, Paul explained that he wanted to teach kids that it was not only OK to be different, but he also helped them celebrate their uniqueness.

“But I want that not just for you, but for myself,” the late comedian admitted.

Pee-wee as Himself premieres on HBO on May 23, 2025, and HBO MAX subscribers can stream the episodes the following day.