Paul Reubens Remembered by Tim Burton, Cher, Mark Hamill, Paul Feig and More: ‘This Is a Huge Loss for Comedy’

Celebrities are taking to social media to pay tribute to actor Paul Reubens, best known for creating and starring as the beloved comedy character Pee-wee Herman. He died Sunday night at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer. His career spanned from the stage to the screen, and he starred as Pee-wee in multiple films in addition to the children’s television series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

Tim Burton, who directed the 1985 cult favorite “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” paid homage to Reubens on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them together and writing, “Shocked and saddened. I’ll never forget how Paul helped me at the beginning of my career. It would not have happened without his support. He was a great artist. I’ll miss him.”

Singer Cher also paid tribute to Reubens, writing “Goodbye Paul” and following this with a quote from Shakespeares’s “Hamlet.”

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wrote on social media, “Paul Reubens was like no one else — a brilliant and original comedian who made kids and their parents laugh at the same time. He never forgot a birthday and shared his genuine delight for silliness with everyone he met. My family and I will miss him.”

Singer k.d. lang wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Sweet rebirth sweet man. Beautiful joyous thing. I love you.”