Ten months after the death of Paul Reubens at age 70, his Los Angeles estate is now available for the first time in nearly four decades, with an asking price of just under $5 million. Known for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, Reubens’ midcentury ranch house, built in the late 1950s, offers almost 3,000 square feet of living space. Located in the coveted Oaks neighborhood of Los Feliz, the property features stunning views of the Griffith Park Observatory and the Hollywood Sign from nearly every angle.
Reubens, a California Institute of the Arts theater student and member of the comedy troupe The Groundlings, gained fame in the 1980s with The Pee-wee Herman Show, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee, and Pee-wee’s Playhouse. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988 and received an Emmy nomination for his role in Murphy Brown. Despite some legal issues in later years, he continued to entertain audiences with projects like The Pee-wee Herman Show at Club Nokia and on Broadway, as well as Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Reubens bought the home in 1985 for $415,000 at the height of his career. The gated, single-story residence is situated on a 1.4-acre parcel at the end of a private road and includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and largely original interiors with slate floors, wood-beam ceilings, and vintage wallpaper.
Highlights of the home include a living room with a fireplace, a dining area with sliding glass doors to the backyard, a den with a stone fireplace and wet bar, and a kitchen with yellow Formica countertops and a breakfast nook. The primary suite features a seating alcove, dressing area, and a bathroom that opens to an enclosed patio Reubens built for his cat. Two guest bedrooms share a bathroom.
The property’s park-like grounds include a swimming pool, spa, barbecue area, pergola-shaded lounge, cactus garden, walking trails, and a waterfall that feeds into a pond. A concrete patio with handprints signed by friends, including actress Debi Mazar, adds a unique touch.
Additionally, the estate is near two homes owned by Emmy-winning actress and comedian Sarah Silverman, purchased for $3.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
