Paul Reubens

Reubens in 2006, photo by Starfrenzy/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Paul Rubenfeld

Date of Birth: August 27, 1952

Place of Birth: Peekskill, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: July 30, 2023

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Paul Reubens was an American actor, of film, television and stage, improvisational comedian, writer, producer, and children’s entertainer. He was known for portraying Pee-wee Herman. He created and debuted the character in a stage show in 1981, and appeared publicly only as Pee-wee for at least the next decade, including the films Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which was Tim Burton’s feature-length directorial debut, and Big Top Pee-wee; and the program Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which he created and co-directed episodes of. He also had roles in the films Batman Returns, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Dunston Checks In, Matilda (1996), Buddy (1997), Mystery Men, Blow (2001), and The Tripper (2006), and on the shows Murphy Brown, 30 Rock, The Blacklist, and Portlandia. He also reprised his role as Pee-wee in the third film Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. He co-wrote all of his Pee-wee films and shows. He was also billed as Paul Mall.

Paul was the son of Judy (Rosen), a teacher, and Milton Rubenfeld, an automobile salesman. His parents owned a lamp store. His father was a pilot, who flew for the RAF and the U.S. Army during WWII; he was one of the five founding pilots of the Israeli Air Force in Israel’s War of Independence. His sister was attorney Abby Rubenfeld. He spent his childhood in Oneonta, New York, before moving to Sarasota, Florida, where he attended high school.

Paul’s paternal grandfather was Aharon Leib/Louis Rubenfeld (the son of Lipa Rubenfeld and Lina/Leah Rathaus/Rotthaus). Aharon was a Polish Jewish emigrant, who was born in Sanok, Powiat sanocki, Podkarpackie. Lina was the daughter of Shimon Rathaus and Kala Yarmush.

Paul’s paternal grandmother was Golda/Gussie Yormark (the daughter of Milton/Meyer/Melech Jahrmarkt/Yormark and Reizel/Raizel/Rose Loch). Golda was a Polish Jewish emigrant, who was born in Powiat przemyski, Podkarpackie. Milton was the son of Jacob Yormark and Rose Lutner. Reizel was the daughter of Yitzchak Yormark and Masha Marks.

Paul’s maternal grandfather was Paul Rosen (the son of Morris S. Rosen and Frances/Francis Wallace Kantrovitch). Paul’s grandfather Paul was born in New York. Morris was born in Riga, Latvia, the son of Pesach/Pessoch Rosen and Mary Klemansky. He operated the Windsor Hotel and the Cusack House, in Poughkeepsie, New York. Frances was the daughter of Polish Jewish parents, Elias Kantrovitch/Kantrowitch and Gussie Julia, who were from Warsaw.

Paul’s maternal grandmother was Lillian Millstein/Milstein (the daughter of Isaac E. Milstein and Rebecca “Betty” Baumenblitz). Lillian was born in New York, to Polish Jewish/Russian Jewish parents.

Sources: Genealogies of Paul Reubens – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com

Paul’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Paul’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Paul’s maternal grandfather, Paul Rosen, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org