Paul Reubens Kept Cancer Secret During Pee-wee as Himself Documentary Filming

Paul Reubens, the comedic genius behind Pee-wee Herman, kept his terminal cancer a secret from director Matt Wolf during the making of the HBO Max documentary Pee-wee as Himself. Reubens, who passed away in 2023 at 70, poured over 40 hours into interviews, sharing his life’s highs and lows—his quirky childhood, his love-hate dance with fame, and even his controversial arrests. Yet, he never mentioned the cancer he’d been battling for six years.

Wolf, speaking to Forbes, recalled a poignant final conversation just a week before Reubens’ death. “I sensed something was off health-wise, but I didn’t grasp the severity,” Wolf admitted. Reubens’ inner circle knew, but the news broke on Instagram, stunning fans and Wolf alike. The documentary, which premiered at Sundance in 2025, captures Reubens’ unguarded reflections, including his pride in staying true to his unique vision. “I felt like a good vessel for it all,” he said, unaware those would be his final filmed words.

The film doesn’t shy away from Reubens’ struggles—his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure and a 2001 obscenity charge—but it’s his resilience and creative purity that shine. Wolf wanted one last interview to dig deeper into these moments, but Reubens’ death left some questions unanswered. Still, the 1,500-page transcript of their talks revealed a man quietly wrestling with mortality while celebrating his legacy.