Stars Who Got Their Start on Pee-wee’s Playhouse
A number of now-notable stars appeared on Paul Reubens’ popular Saturday morning TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse before they became famous. The show, which ran from 1986 to 1990, was a launching pad for many successful careers in the entertainment industry. According to a report by Yahoo Entertainment, the new HBO original documentary Pee-wee as Himself showcases some of the talented actors who got their start on the show.
One of the most notable stars to appear on Pee-wee’s Playhouse was Phil Hartman, who played the role of Captain Carl on the show. Before his stint on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Hartman was part of the Groundlings comedy troupe with Reubens in the late 1970s. He also co-wrote the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure with Reubens. Hartman’s career went on to include roles on Saturday Night Live and the sitcom NewsRadio, as well as several films. Tragically, Hartman’s life was cut short when he was murdered by his wife Brynn Omdahl in 1998.
Another star who appeared on Pee-wee’s Playhouse was Laurence Fishburne, who played the role of Cowboy Curtis on the show from 1986 to 1990. Fishburne went on to become known for his iconic roles in films such as Boyz n the Hood and the Matrix and John Wick film series. In an interview, Fishburne recalled his time on Pee-wee’s Playhouse as a valuable learning experience that helped him develop his craft as an actor.
Yahoo Entertainment reports that Natasha Lyonne, the current star of the Peacock crime drama Poker Face, also appeared on Pee-wee’s Playhouse as a child in 1986. Lyonne went on to gain fame in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll. Her early start on Pee-wee’s Playhouse clearly paved the way for her future success in the entertainment industry.
Other stars who appeared on Pee-wee’s Playhouse include Jimmy Smits, who played the role of a repairman on the show around the same time he started his breakthrough role on the legal drama L.A. Law. Smits went on to gain more fame on the ABC series NYPD Blue and appeared in two Star Wars films – 2002’s Attack of the Clones and 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. S. Epatha Merkerson, who made her television debut as Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, also went on to have a successful career, including a long-running role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law & Order from 1993 to 2010.
Reubens himself, of course, is a household name, thanks to his iconic role as Pee-wee Herman. However, he has also appeared in a number of other films and TV shows, including Batman Returns and Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1992. On TV, he has appeared on Murphy Brown for six episodes from 1996-1997 and has lent his voice to a number of TV series, including 2012’s Tron: Uprising and Robot Chicken.
The documentary Pee-wee as Himself offers a fascinating look at the life and career of Paul Reubens and the impact that Pee-wee’s Playhouse had on the entertainment industry. As Yahoo Entertainment notes, the show was a true launching pad for many successful careers, and its influence can still be seen today.
