The man who brought more candy-colored joy to 1980s television than anyone spent his entire life in hiding. He hid his sexuality, his private life, and a fatal six-year cancer battle behind a bright red bow tie. This is the deeply human story of Paul Reubens, the artist who erased his own reality to build a world of pure imagination.

This deep dive looks past the tight gray suit to trace Reubens' meteoric rise, his brutal public falls, his quiet triumphs, and the heavy price of giving himself over completely to a character. It is a bittersweet tragedy about who truly owns the joy an artist sacrifices everything to create.

• How a circus-headquarters childhood in Sarasota and an I Love Lucy obsession hardwired his immersive visual style
• The SNL rejection that fueled the Pee-wee Herman stage show, and his decision to do all p ...