It is with a heavy heart that our first blog post about Peekskill’s Paul Rueben’s has to be today. He passed away on Sunday July 30th, 2023.
Paul Reubens, best known for his beloved character Pee-wee Herman leaves behind a legacy of laughter and joy. Born on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York, Reubens became an iconic figure in American popular culture, turning his quirky, childlike character Pee-wee into a household name in the 1980s. His television show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” was a touchstone for a generation of children, and the film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” became a cult classic. Through his uncanny ability to capture innocence and humor, Reubens made a deep impact on the entertainment industry. Today we mourn the loss of an unparalleled artist, but celebrate the many moments of joy and wonder he brought to us all.
In a 2016 interview during an Alamo Drafthouse live stream for his last movie, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, he had told a story about his latest visit to Peekskill for a friend’s funeral. He saw Plan 9 from Outer Space on the Paramount Center for the Arts marquee. This would have been in 2015.
All of us in Peekskill would have liked to see Pee-wee in town one more time before he passed.
Pee-wee was Peekskill’s finest. We’ll miss you.
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Sad. RIP Peewee
We would have liked to run into him during any number of Peekskill events but it seems like we missed him.