Paul Reubens

Comedian Paul Reubens portrayed Pee-wee Herman, the peculiar man-child featured in several films and the popular children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse from 1986 to 1990. He made the statement "I know you are, but what am I" famous around the world.

Reubens auditioned to be on the show Saturday Night Live and was turned down. He then made his HBO debut with the adult themed comedy act The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981.

In 1986, Reubens launched the children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse on CBS, starring a much calmer and less explicit version than the HBO series Pee Wee.

Reubens was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, on July 26, 1991 as he was caught masturbating in an adult movie theater. His arrest was the demise of Pee Wee, and he became the brunt of jokes everywhere.

In 2002 he was arrested for connections with child pornography. Reubens stated that his print collection was "vintage erotica," and dated back to the 18th century. The city of Los Angeles dropped all the felony charges and he plead guilty to a separate misdemeanor obscenity change.

1. "One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don't want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It's not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I'm weird. They may think I'm crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That's all fine. As long as one of the things you're not thinking about me is that I'm a pedophile. Because that's not true"

Comedian Paul Reubens portrayed Pee-wee Herman, the peculiar man-child featured in several films and the popular children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse from 1986 to 1990. He made the statement "I know you are, but what am I" famous around the world.

</small> Reubens auditioned to be on the show Saturday Night Live and was turned down. He then made his HBO debut with the adult themed comedy act The Pee-wee Herman Show in 1981.

In 1986, Reubens launched the children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse on CBS, starring a much calmer and less explicit version than the HBO series Pee Wee.

</small> Reubens was arrested in Sarasota, Florida, on July 26, 1991 as he was caught masturbating in an adult movie theater. His arrest was the demise of Pee Wee, and he became the brunt of jokes everywhere.

In 2002 he was arrested for connections with child pornography. Reubens stated that his print collection was "vintage erotica," and dated back to the 18th century. The city of Los Angeles dropped all the felony charges and he plead guilty to a separate misdemeanor obscenity change.

1. Birth name: Paul Rubenfeld

2. Born: August 27, 1952

3. Birthplace: Peekskill, New York

4. Frequently works with director Tim Burton

1. "One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don't want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It's not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I'm weird. They may think I'm crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That's all fine. As long as one of the things you're not thinking about me is that I'm a pedophile. Because that's not true"</note>

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• August 27, 1952: Born in Peekskill, New York

• 1977: Creates Pee Wee Herman while performing with The Groundlings

• 1980: Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

• 1981: The Pee-wee Herman Show TV special

• 1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure

• 1986-1991: Pee-wee's Playhouse series

• 1987: Back to the Beach

• 1988: Big Top Pee-wee

• July 26, 1991: Arrested in a Florida adult theater

• 1992: Batman Returns

• 1992: Buffy the Vampire Slayer film

• 1999: Mystery Men

• 2001: Blow

• 2002: Arrested in connection with a child pornography ring

• 2006: The Tripper

• 2007: Reno 911!: Miami