Paul Reubens, the actor best known for portraying Pee-Wee Herman, has died at the age of 70, his family has confirmed.
Reubens' family revealed in a message written by the star himself that he had been battling cancer in secret.
He wrote: "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."
The post, which also contained an image of Reubens looking dapper in a dark suit with a Pee-Wee Herman doll in his pocket, was captioned: "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.
"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."
Reubens' career began in the 1970s after he joined the Groundlings, the famed Los Angeles live comedy ensemble, doing improv comedy a well as stage acting.
The Pee-Wee Herman Show was established in 1980, based on a character he had been developing for several years, racking up a steady following which ensured his show ran for five sold-out months.
Pee-Wee Herman gained a cult following, leading Reubens to take part in interviews and public appearances in character.
He teamed up with Tim Burton to bring the character to the big screen in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure in 1985, marking the character's feature film debut, before returning three years later for Big Top Pee-Wee.
A successful television series followed, with Pee-Wee's Playhouse running on CBS from 1986 until 1990.
He retreated from the character in 1991 after being arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Florida, and would not reprise his most iconic role again until 2010, when he brought back The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway, as well as appearing in online sketches and events.
He co-wrote and starred in Pee-Wee's Big Holiday for Netflix in 2016, which was a sequel to 1988's Big Top and would be his final film role.
As well as Pee-Wee Herman, Reubens also starred in a host of other projects, with appearances in Batman Returns, Matilda, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer among many other credits.
Before his death, Reubens was also working on two more projects tied to the character of Pee-Wee Herman, with a dark comedy called The Pee-Wee Herman Story in the works, as well as a family adventure film called Pee-Wee's Playhouse: The Movie.