Yahoo Finance John Paragon, Star Of 'Pee-wee’s Playhouse,' Dead At 66
“Pee-wee’s Playhouse” star John Paragon has died at the age of 66.
The actor best known for his role as blue-faced Jambi the Genie on the children’s TV series passed at his home in Palm Springs, California, on Apr. 3.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department made details of Paragon’s death public on Friday. The cause of death was determined to be from “atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with other significant conditions of chronic alcohol abuse,” according to coroner Chad Bianco.
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1954, Paragon’s first taste of the entertainment industry came in the 1970s as part of the Los Angeles-based improv group The Groundlings.
Paragon reunited in 1981 with fellow Groundling Paul Reubens for “The Pee-wee Herman Show” and then the children’s show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which ran from 1986 to 1990.
Of his 46 acting credits, Paragon had a recurring role as Cedric on “Seinfeld” and appeared in “UHF,” “Cheers,” “The Elvira Show” and “Elvira’s Movie Macabre.”
Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman) paid tribute to his former collaborator in a lengthy statement on his website Friday, describing Paragon as “sly and wickedly funny” and crediting him with contributing “so heavily to my success.”
“From the time we were both starting out, through my success and fame as Pee-wee Herman, John was my closest friend,” he wrote. “And through all of those years, we had huge amounts of fun and laughed our asses off together. I really loved him. Rest In Peace, John. I was lucky to know you so deeply.”
I met John Paragon, Jambi the genie on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, at the improvisational comedy group The @Groundlings
, where both our careers started. We became best friends instantly... https://t.co/U2GzUPG8gupic.twitter.com/ewS8xpCIva— Pee-wee Herman (@peeweeherman) June 18, 2021
Lost someone that meant the world to me and was such a huge part of “Elvira” and my life that it’s impossible to express how sad I feel. John Paragon, my writing partner of 27 years…my friend, my brother, my soul-mate. I will miss you and love you forever, Johnny #RIPJohnParagonpic.twitter.com/ajz0nhIXLs
— Elvira (@TheRealElvira) June 18, 2021
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
