Joe Manganiello is having a tough time of it all. His divorce from Sofia Vergara has to carry some stress with it and now, he’s keenly feeling the loss of his best friend, Paul Reubens, as he penned a stunning tribute for the 70-year-old actor.
Joe Manganiello Remembers Best Friend, Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens, the actor best known for his portrayal of Pee-wee Herman, died on Sunday night after battling cancer, privately. The 70-year-old was beyond polite even after his passing, posting a posthumous statement on his Instagram handle that 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.”
Along with Reubens’ passing, all hopes of any Pee-wee Herman revival are also now over, as one fan commented, “I have never had a celebrity death have this type of impact on me. I am devastated.”
Another man who seems equally shaken is Reubens’ friend, Joe Manganiello who took to Instagram only hours ago to say, “Man… this is tough. It’s so hard to say goodbye when you know you’ll never see someone again who meant so much to you. Someone who believed in you, fought for you, and saw things in you that most people didn’t. Everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like that. Well, I did, and today I have to say goodbye.”
Here’s more from Pee-wee Herman himself, as Paul Reubens’ family and estate took to Instagram to announce his passing.
Joe Manganiello Feels World Was A Better Place With Paul Reubens
Fans will remember Pee-wee Herman for his bright red bowtie, grey suit, and slicked-back haircut, who delivered still-remembered catchphrases like “I know you are, but what am I?” in a nearly nasal, high-pitched voice.
Fans took the narrative forward, using these very Pee-wee catchphrases to bid Paul Reubens adieu:
“’I know you are but what am I?’ I’m sad.”
“The Not So Secret Words of the Day: Thank You and Goodbye”
“Today’s secret word is “farewell”. Thank You for being such an important part of my childhood.
Manganiello also added more poetry to his tribute as he further wrote, “Today the world lost one of the greatest comedic geniuses of all time. Paul was subversive, brilliant, witty, and had the biggest heart on the planet… anyone on his Birthday mailing list will know what I mean…”
He further added, “He was a visionary who was so far ahead of his time and had one of the scariest eyes for talent I’ve ever seen. He was responsible for breaking so many incredible actors (see everyone in Pee Wee’s Playhouse), directors (Tim Burton), and composers (Danny Elfman). He was an artist and a weirdo who fought for other artists and weirdos and the world was a much better place because it had him in it.”
Here’s Reubens, posting a last Sunday drive, because even in his passing, he had to make it funny, if poignant!
Fans Reached Out To Commiserate With Pee-wee’s BFF
Joe Manganiello is in the middle of divorce proceedings with Sofia Vergara. While there’s no vitriol in this dissolution of marriage, the end of a relationship is always tough, on anyone. Fans felt for Manganiello as he wrote a beautiful tribute for Reubens, as one sympathized, “When I saw that Paul passed I thought of you man and so sorry for your loss.”
Reubens and Manganiello starred in the 2016 movie, “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” and they have been friends ever since, as Manganiello further wrote, “He was one of the most recognizable faces in the world, an icon, but yet he was still somehow this lovable underdog. I’m just so glad that I got to be a part of his life and ultimately his comeback. I saw how tirelessly he showed up for people and his work with such joy. I feel lucky that I could always be there for him when he needed me… best friends forever. RIP.”
Many feel the loss of Reubens today and some Instagram users, who tried to remind the world of the child pornography charges against Reubens were quickly shut down – neither the time nor the place.
RIP Paul Reubens and farewell, Pee-wee!