Paul Reubens was born into a middle-class family in Upstate New York and relocated to Sarasota, Florida as a child, according to The New York Times. Right out of the gate, Reubens knew that he wasn't like everyone else. "I felt like a total oddball, like, almost every minute of growing up, so it would be hard to kind of isolate that," he recalled in an interview with NPR.

If you've ever been to Sarasota, you probably know that it was the winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for many years. Interestingly enough, the presence of the circus in the area had a significant impact on Reubens, thanks to his eclectic neighbors. "I met lots of circus people," he continued. "I mean, for one thing, you could see the circus people coming down the street — like the lady with the bright red hair and the wooden shoes, you know?" No wonder Reubens' performance artist neighbors stood out "in a very conservative small town."

Unsurprisingly, Reubens was drawn to comedy. After attending the California Institute of the Arts, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter, he became a member of the well-known comedy troupe The Groundlings – in fact, Reubens' late "Pee-wee's Playhouse" co-star John Paragon was also a member. And while he was selling Fuller Brushes on the side to make ends meet (via the Chicago Tribune), Reubens was destined for success.