On July 31, 2023, the news of Reubens' death came as a shock to documentary filmmaker Matt Wolf, who had spent a year trying to convince him to make the ambitious two-part documentary “Pee-wee as Himself,” now streaming on HBO Max, and over 40 hours interviewing him on camera.

Pee-wee as Himself' details Paul Reubens' life and struggles with being misunderstood; part 1 is now streaming on Max.

Death is just so final. To be able to get your message in at the last minute, or at some point, is incredible," Reubens said in 'Pee-wee as Himself'