Paul Reubens, known for his iconic Pee-wee Herman character, posthumously comes out as gay in the documentary Pee-wee as Himself, premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Reubens, who died of cancer in 2023 at 70, reveals his relationship with a man named Guy, whose voice and mannerisms inspired the Pee-wee character.
The HBO documentary explores Reubens’s career, including the success of Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990), several films, and a Broadway show. It also delves into the scandals that impacted his reputation, including a 1991 indecent exposure charge and a 2001 obscenity charge. Reubens addresses these controversies, expressing his pain at being mislabeled and ostracized.
In the film, Reubens explains his reasons for remaining closeted, citing “self-hatred or self-preservation” and a focus on his Pee-wee Herman persona rather than his own. He also recounts visiting Guy in the hospital as he died from AIDS complications.
Reubens, born in Peekskill, N.Y., began his career with the Groundlings comedy troupe. His Pee-wee Herman stage show led to an HBO special in 1981 and the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, catapulting him to fame. Outside of Pee-wee, he appeared on shows like Murphy Brown and What We Do in the Shadows.
Despite initially being reticent about discussing the obscenity charge, Reubens ultimately provided a final audio recording to complete the film. Pee-wee as Himself will premiere on HBO/Max in 2025.
