Paul Reubens Comes Out as Gay in Posthumous Documentary

The late actor, known for his Pee-wee Herman character, reflects on a life of secrecy, love, and career challenges in a new HBO documentary debuting at Sundance.

• Paul Reubens, who passed away in 2023, revealed his sexuality as a gay man in the two-part HBO documentary 'Pee-wee as Himself,' based on 40 hours of interviews conducted before his death.
• Reubens explained that he hid his sexuality throughout his career, fearing it would harm his professional opportunities, particularly as he pursued success with the Pee-wee Herman persona.
• The documentary highlights a significant early relationship with a man named Guy, whose mannerisms inspired aspects of Pee-wee Herman; Guy later passed away from AIDS-related causes.
• Reubens also addressed the scandals that impacted his career, including his 1991 arrest and later obscenity charges, describing the pain of being misjudged and labeled unfairly.
• The documentary, which premiered at Sundance and will air on HBO later this year, allowed Reubens to shape his legacy and share a deeply personal side of his life.

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