Pee-Wee Herman's '90s curtain call came on an unlikely stage.
Before Paul Reubens retired his most beloved character for 15 years, country music's Mother Church came calling. Hats off to Minnie: America Honors Minnie Pearl was filmed at the Grand Ole Opry House in May 1992 for airing on TNN after Pearl's 80th birthday in October. Reba McEntire, Ricky Van Shelton, Glen Campbell and other country stars appeared on the special, as did several comedians inspired by Pearl, including Rosanne Barr and Reubens.
Pearl met Reubens for the first time at Comic Relief in 1986, and the duo remained friends until Pearl's 1996 passing.
"I admire and respect her and consider her a longtime, close friend," Reubens told the Associated Press in 1992.
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It wasn't Pee-Wee's first country music adventure. Kris Kristofferson co-stars in the 1988 film Big Top Pee-Wee, and who hasn't seen that meme-worthy photo of Reubens and Miss Yvonne look-alike Dolly Parton?
In between Reubens' early '80s HBO special The Pee-Wee Herman Show and his infamous indecent exposure arrest in 1991, the comedian took the best-known character from his stand-up routine to the big screen. Warner Bros.' Hollywood blockbuster Pee-Wee's Big Adventure featured pre-Batman Tim Burton as director, with music by Danny Elfman. Reubens also shook up CBS' Saturday morning lineup with the Emmy award-winning TV series Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
Nostalgia for '80s pop culture opened the door for Pee-Wee Herman to reemerge in the 21st century, most notably with a 2010 Broadway stage show. Its box office success led to another Pee-Wee Herman movie in the 2016 Netflix feature film Pee-Wee's Big Holiday, which was directed by Judd Apatow.
Reubens died on July 30, 2023 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," wrote Reubens' estate on Instagram. "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."
This story was first published in Aug. 2020 and was updated on July 31, 2023 following Paul Reuben's death.
