Tim Burtonis paying tribute toPaul Reubensfollowing his death at age 70.
On Monday, the director, 64, addressed the loss of his colleague and friendin a post on Instagram, alongside a throwback photo of the pair on the set ofPee-wee’s Big Adventure(1985).
“Shocked and saddened,” Burton wrote in the caption of his post. “I’ll never forget how Paul helped me at the beginning of my career. It would not have happened without his support. He was a great artist. I’ll miss him.”
Reubens starred in three of Burton’s movie projects, including the latter’s feature-film directorial debut,Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, and as the voice of Lock in 1993’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas, which Burton co-produced and wrote the story for.
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage, Cindy Ord/Getty
“Really loved working with him. Very sad," DeVito, 78, said in a statement to PEOPLE following the news of Reubens' death on Monday.
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The feeling of admiration between Reubens and Burton appears to have been mutual.
The actor spoke highly of Burton in a 2016 interview withColliderwhen asked what he saw in the now-legendary director that made him realize he was the right person to directPee-wee’s Big Adventure, despite not having a feature-directing experience at that point.
“I think it was the wallpaper inFrankenweenie, in the second shot of the movie,” Reubens said, citing the 1984 black-and-white short film from Burton, which the latter laterturned into a full-length feature, in 2012.
He continued, “From the first minute of his film, I could tell that he was somebody who was very interested in style. He brought style to something, and a lot of young directors aren’t there yet. … I could tell that he had a style, and that he understood production design and art direction. There was a lot of stuff about that first film that felt perfect to me.”
“And I was young and new, so I didn’t realize how crazy it was to hire Tim Burton, at the time,” Reubens added. “And ultimately, in hindsight, it wasn’t crazy, at all.”
Reubens' repconfirmed his death in a statement to PEOPLEon Monday, revealing that the actor, best known for hisPee-wee Herman characteron television and in film, had cancer for years.
“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,” read the statement.“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit,” the rep’s statement continued. “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.”
The news of his death was also confirmed on Reubens’official Instagram page.
source: people.com
