Paul Reubens Reveals His True Self in Posthumous Documentary
Paul Reubens, the beloved actor best known for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, came out as gay in a posthumous HBO documentary titled Pee-wee as Himself. The documentary, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, features over 40 hours of interviews with Reubens, conducted by director Matt Wolf. Reubens, who passed away from cancer on July 30, 2023, at the age of 70, revealed that he had been secretive about his sexuality throughout his career, citing “self-hatred or self-preservation” as reasons for staying in the closet.
Reubens shared that he had a boyfriend named Guy before his Hollywood career took off, and some of Guy’s vocal quirks inspired Pee-wee Herman’s famous catchphrases. However, as his fame grew, Reubens chose to conceal his personal life, stating, “I was out of the closet, and then I went back in the closet. I wasn’t pursuing the Paul Reubens career; I was pursuing the Pee-wee Herman career.” He admitted to having “many, many secret relationships” but prioritized his career over his personal life.
The documentary also delves into Reubens’ struggles with public scandals, including his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater, to which he pleaded no contest. He described the fallout as devastating, saying, “I lost control of my anonymity.” In 2002, Reubens faced another legal battle when his home was raided, and he was charged with possessing materials believed to be child pornography. He maintained that the images were vintage erotica, and the charges were eventually dropped, though he pleaded guilty to a lesser obscenity charge.
Reubens’ final audio message, recorded the day before his death, expressed his desire to set the record straight. “More than anything, the reason I wanted to make a documentary was for people to see who I really am and how painful and dreadful it was to be labeled something I wasn’t,” he said. The documentary paints a complex portrait of Reubens, highlighting his contributions to comedy and the personal struggles he faced behind the scenes.
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