Paul Reubens shot to fame as the unforgettable Pee-wee Herman—but who was the man beneath the bow tie? The two-part HBO documentary Pee-wee as Himself explores Reubens’ life, legacy, and the complexity of his fame, with insight from creatives like Tim Burton, Judd Apatow, and the Safdie brothers.
The two-part HBO Original documentary Pee-wee as Himself, directed by Matt Wolf (The Stroll), premieres Friday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT with both parts airing back-to-back. It will also be available to stream on Max.
Honoring Paul Reubens: What to Expect from Pee-wee as Himself
Built from extensive interviews filmed before his passing in 2023, Pee-wee as Himself offers an intimate look at Paul Reubens’ life. The documentary weaves together over 1,000 hours of archival material and a trove of unseen photos from Reubens’ own collection, painting a vivid portrait of the man behind the bow tie.
The documentary also features appearances from Reubens’ sister Abby Rubenfeld, along with Natasha Lyonne, Laurence Fishburne, Debi Mazar, David Arquette, Tim Burton, and Judd Apatow.
The official synopsis reads:
“Driven by a soul-baring interview with Paul Reubens, the man behind the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee as Himself is the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never before discussed personal life. Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self.”
