Celebrity Paul Reubens' official cause of death confirmed The beloved Pee-wee Herman actor battled two types of cancer and died from acute hypoxic respiratory failure, according to his death certificate. By Sydney Bucksbaum Sydney Bucksbaum Sydney Bucksbaum is a writer at Entertainment Weekly covering all things pop culture – but TV is her one true love. She currently lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Chicago so please don't make fun of her accent when it slips out. EW's editorial guidelines Published on September 8, 2023 09:09PM EDT Paul Reubens' official cause of death has been disclosed a little more than a month after the beloved Pee-wee Herman actor died at 70. Reubens' immediate cause of death was recorded as acute hypoxic respiratory failure, a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot release enough oxygen into the blood, according to a death certificate obtained by PEOPLE. The death certificate also said Reubens battled two types of cancer at the time of his death: acute myelogenous leukemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow), which was listed as a sequential underlying cause, and metastatic lung cancer. He kept his diagnoses private until after his death. Paul Reubens. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Reubens, an actor and comedian who was best known for his beloved man-child character Pee-wee Herman but also appeared in numerous other film and TV projects, died July 30. In a posthumous statement posted to his social media accounts, he said, "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." An accompany statement said, "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." Related content: Paul Reubens, beloved Pee-Wee Herman actor, dies at 70 Paul Reubens' most memorable TV and film roles outside of Pee-Wee Herman Paul Reubens and the enduring queer legacy of Pee-Wee Herman Stars we've lost in 2023