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Drena De Niro remembers Paul Reubens after comedian’s death

Twelfth Annual Tribeca Film Festival Artists Dinner Hosted by Chanel
Drena De Niro

Drena De Niro has paid tribute to Paul Reubens after the comedian’s death.

In a Tuesday Instagram post, the daughter of Robert De Niro shared a series of photos and videos featuring the late comedian posing with her late son Leandro ‘Leo’ De Niro Rodriguez when Leo was a baby.

“Darling wonderful kind genius Paul,” Drena captioned the post. “I loved you since the moment I first laid on eyes on you in Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke because even though I was just a kid… Weird knows weird and you were brilliantly and beautifully weird.”

Paul died at the age of 70 on Sunday. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke – which did not credit the late actor, according to IMDb – was released in 1978.

“You gave the world so much more than it gave back to you,” Drena’s caption continued. “I didn’t know you then but I had wished I could tell you that I loved you and would stand by PeeWee forever… Luckily I got the chance in this lifetime to do just that.”

The late comedian and actor portrayed the fictional character of Pee-wee Herman on and off from 1980 until his death. He debuted the character in 1980’s Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie before starring in The Pee-wee Herman Show and spawning his own movies: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee, and Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.

“Thank you for letting me (be) part of your Big Adventure,” Drena gushed in her post. “Now you and Leandro can ride bicycles, build elaborate pet feeding systems & talk to the animals everyday together. Take care of eachother (sic). Heaven is lucky to have you 2 angels. Love you Buddy.”

Leo passed away at 19 years old in early July.

– Cover Media