Actor Paul Reubens, better known to the world as Pee Wee Herman, has died at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. He had a brain tumor 6 years ago, but doctors were able to surgically remove it

It was announced on his official Facebook page that Reubens died Sunday, after he “bravely and privately fought cancer for years”. It also included this note from Reubens himself: “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.”

Reubens created the Pee Wee Herman character in the late 70’s and became an icon in the mid-80s with the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and the TV series Pee Wee’s Playhouse.

He also appeared in movies like Mystery Men, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Blow, and Doctor Dolittle. As well as hit TV shows like Murphy Brown, Ally McBeal and Everybody Loves Raymond.

In a note he wrote, Paul apologized for not going public with his cancer battle.