Was Paul Reubens homosexual?

The late Paul Reubens, alias Pee-wee Herman, is coming forward, identifying himself after years of conjecture surrounding the star's sexual orientation.

Reubens divulges he was gay within the new two-part docuseries 'Pee-wee as Himself," which premiered Thursday evening at the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City. It is scheduled for release on HBO and Max later in this annum.

"I was as open as one could be, and subsequently, I retreated into the shadows," Reubens conveys in the documentary. "My career would have certainly suffered if I had been openly gay; thus, I went to great lengths for many, many years to conceal it."

He sat for forty hours of interviews with director Matt Wolf for the documentary, which includes Reubens discussing his relationship with Guy, a painter he resided with in Los Angeles during the nineteen-seventies.

The actor prioritized his professional life over his personal life, and unveils that years after they separated, Reubens visited Guy just prior to his passing from AIDS. "To speak about witnessing somebody on death's doorstep, that's what it was," Reubens articulates. He adds that in the nineteen-eighties, AIDS "frightened the heck out of me."

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Reubens also recounts a tale of when he revealed his sexuality to his parents, and the manner in which his father penned an "incredible" letter to him: "Son, if you're homosexual, I desire you to understand that I hope you become the greatest homosexual you can be."

The documentary additionally delves into Reubens' public controversies, which encompassed being arrested for masturbation inside a cinema, possessing child pornography, and consenting to register as a sex offender.

'More than anything, the underlying reason I desired to make a documentary was to enable people to witness who I truly am and how painful and challenging it was to be categorized as something I wasn't," he declared in the film, according to the Los Angeles Times. Being labeled a pedophile altered "everything moving forward and backward."

"Paul communicated to me that he had determined he was prepared to come out," Wolf, the filmmaker behind the documentary, affirmed in a statement shared with USA TODAY. "Since he had been incredibly private throughout his life, discussing his sexuality was probably the most delicate matter we had to navigate together."

"I'm gay, and I've produced several films about queer history, so I relate to the experiences of artists and entertainers such as Paul from varying generations," Wolf mentioned. "I wished to permit Paul to discuss his experience as a gay person and as a closeted individual on his own terms, and he did so beautifully."

Reubens, who was seventy, succumbed in 2023 after a six-year concealed struggle with cancer. The estate of the children's entertainer confirmed news of his death on his official Instagram page.

"Last evening, we bid adieu 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 faith in the significance of kindness," the announcement stated.

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"Paul courageously and privately combated cancer for years with his hallmark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will eternally reside in the comedy pantheon and within our hearts as a cherished friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit."

The emotive post presented a quote from Reubens, apologizing to fans for privately managing his health.

"Please accept my apology for not coming forward publicly with what I've been facing for the last six years," Reubens said. "I have perpetually felt an immense amount of affection and respect from my friends, fans, and supporters. I have loved you all so much and relished crafting art for you."

In 1986, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" debuted on CBS, and the Saturday morning children's program continued until 1990. Following a lengthy hiatus, the character was revived for the stage with "The Pee-wee Herman Show" in 2010, which played in LA and on Broadway. Six years later, Pee-wee returned on Netflix for the movie "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," produced by Judd Apatow and co-starring Joe Manganiello.

Apatow was a fan, and "he desired to bring Pee-wee back," Reubens conveyed to USA TODAY in 2016 while discussing the film. "He was key to the return. And he sought to do a road movie, something that was a nod towards 'Big Adventure.'"

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Contributing: Brian Truitt, Bryan Alexander and Kim Willis