Paul Reubens: Pee-wee Herman actor dies age 70

US histrion Paul Reubens, who roseate to fame successful the 1980s arsenic the quality Pee-wee Herman, died astatine 70 connected Sunday aft a backstage conflict with cancer.

"Paul bravely and privately fought crab for years with his trademark tenacity and wit," said a connection released by his property connected Monday.

Reubens' iconic cult Herman quality led to a TV bid and aggregate films.

But helium enactment speech the relation for astir 20 years aft being arrested for indecent vulnerability successful 1991 astatine a movie theatre.

In a posthumously released connection connected his Instagram relationship the histrion spoke astir keeping his diagnosis private.

"Please judge my apology for not going nationalist with what I've been facing the past six years," the connection said.

"I person ever felt a immense magnitude of emotion and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I person loved you each truthful overmuch and enjoyed making creation for you."

His property added that helium was an "iconic American actor, comedian, writer and shaper whose beloved quality Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and content successful the value of kindness".

"A talented and prolific talent, helium volition everlastingly unrecorded successful the drama pantheon and successful our hearts arsenic a treasured person and antheral of singular quality and generosity of spirit," the connection continued.

Reubens created the quality erstwhile helium was portion of Los Angeles improv radical The Groundlings.

He starred successful the 1985 movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure and successful the TV bid Pee-wee's Playhouse, which ran from 1986 to 1991.

The programme, which helium created, co-wrote and co-directed earned 22 Emmy Awards.

In 1991, helium was arrested astatine an big movie theatre successful Sarasota, Florida, for allegedly touching himself inappropriately.

The charges were aboriginal dropped but the incidental tarnished his reputation.

He stopped doing interviewed arsenic his quality and did not publically reprise the relation until 2010.

In 2016, helium co-wrote and starred successful Pee-wee's Big Holiday for Netflix. It was his last relation earlier his death.

In the connection announcing his death, his representatives asked that "expressions of sympathy" beryllium made successful his parents' honour to organisations researching cancer, dementia and Alzheimer's.

Comedians Steve Martin and Jimmy Kimmel are among the celebrities starring tributes to him online.

Kimmel called him a "brilliant and archetypal comedian who made kids and their parents laughter astatine the aforesaid time".

Martin thanked him for "the superb disconnected the partition comedy".

Director Paul Feig added: "Paul was specified a drama genius. From his Letterman appearances to his TV shows and movies, helium was truthful archetypal and hilarious.

"And specified a saccharine antheral too. This is simply a immense nonaccomplishment for comedy. Thanks for each the laughs, Paul."

Director Guillermo del Toro called him "one of the patron saints of each misfitted, weird, maladjusted, wonderful, miraculous oddities".