Over a month after his passing, the man known for playing Pee-wee Herman’s cause of death is being revealed. As Mamas Uncut reported, actor Paul Reubens was 70 years old at the time of his passing.
Reubens first came onto the scene in 1985 when he made children all over the world laugh when he found himself in several interesting situations. His Pee-wee Herman voice was also a crowd-pleaser as well.
Paul Reubens’ Official Cause of Death Revealed
Now, according to his death certificate obtained by People, Reubens’ official cause of death has been labeled as acute hypoxic respiratory failure. As Healthline reports, the condition occurs “when your lungs cannot release enough oxygen into your blood.”
According to The New York Post, Reubens died following a private battle with cancer. “Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer, and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy, and belief in the importance of kindness,” the statement shared on his Instagram account read.
“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
However, his death certificate reveals that he was battling two types of cancers at the time of his passing, acute myelogenous leukemia and metastatic lung cancer.
The statement also included a direct quote from Reubens himself, in which he apologized to his beloved fans. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”