It was announced that Paul Reubens tragically died at the age of 70 on July 30, 2023, and now his cause of death has been confirmed with an official statement posted via his Instagram account at the time.
Paul was best known for portraying Pee-Wee Herman in CBS’ hit comedy show, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, from 1986 until 1990.
The actor’s immediate cause of death was listed as acute hypoxic respiratory failure, according to his death certificate, which was obtained by The Blast.
The condition occurs “when your lungs cannot release enough oxygen into your blood,” as per Healthline.
Paul also had two forms of cancer at the time of his death; the primary type, which was listed as a sequential underlying cause, was determined to be acute myelogenous leukemia – which affects the blood and bone marrow.
READ MORE: Tim Burton left devastated after Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens dies aged 70
The late actor had also been diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer — a cancer which “spreads to the other lung or spreads to other parts of your body,” per WebMD — in the months leading up to his passing.
At the time of his death, which was just over a month ago, a statement revealed that he “bravely and privately fought cancer for years”, which came as a surprise to many fans at the time as it wasn’t made public.
It is now confirmed that as a result of his illnesses, he suffered the aforementioned complications including blood cancer and respiratory failure, as well as “metastatic lung cancer”, as per the outlet.
At the end of July, when Paul’s death was announced, the statement posted on his Instagram page began: “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.”
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The message went on to say that 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.”
The post included a snap of Paul shared, alongside a note he had written for his loyal fans before he passed away.
His heartwrenching note read: “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.”
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