Paul Reubens’ Midcentury Modern LA home has a buyer

The real theater of the star of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” Paul Rubens has found a new playmate. The handsome actor of the late Los Angeles estate sold this week for $3.8 million.

The midcentury modern home was listed for sale in May for $4,995,000. In June, the price was lowered to $4,500,000, landing the home on our most popular homes list.

Reubens, star of the popular children’s show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” bought the property in 1985 for $415,000. Reubens died of cancer in 2023; he was 70.

“It’s a piece of Hollywood history,” the agent said. Juliette Hohnen from Douglas Elliman, Realtor.com® told in May. The buyer was represented by Abigail Rebekka Dotson with Maisonre.

Playful ownership

The home is located at the end of a private road in The Oaks neighborhood of Los Feliz. The 1.4-acre plot on a promontory offers views of the city, including landmarks such as the Griffith Park Observatory and the Hollywood sign.

The one-story ranch home has three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Classic midcentury details include walls of windows and sliding glass doors.

Reubens added vintage wallpaper, yellow Formica countertops and an enclosed patio for his cats.

The living room has access to the terrace and the study has a bar, retro wallpaper and a fireplace.

The master bedroom has a dressing area, sitting room and bathroom that opens onto the cat terrace.

Reubens created the iconic character Pee-wee Herman and rose to fame in the 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” He went on to star in a sequel to the film and an Emmy-winning TV show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” An arrest on a charge of exposing himself to gashes in 1991 set his career back until later in the decade.

Reubens went on to act in sitcoms such as “Murphy Brown.” He reprised his Pee-wee character for a Netflix special in 2016.