Tim Burton’s classic movie Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, starring Pee-wee himself, Paul Reubens, is turning 35 later this year. To celebrate, we’re looking at 8 of the best cameos the film has to offer.
1. Phil Hartman
The Late Phil Hartman not only had a cameo in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure but also wrote the film with Paul Reubens and Michael Varhol. Hartman’s character in the film, a news reporter, can be seen in the drive-in at the end as Francis (Mark Holton) tells his story. This wasn’t the only experience the actor had with Pee-wee, also playing Captain Carl on the TV series Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
2. Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson, also known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is a longtime close friend of Reubens, so it’s fun to see her threaten his life as Biker Mama. Peterson is in the biker bar, about to do poor Pee-wee in, when he asks for one last request. TEQUILA! The dance number, not the liquor. She is also seen at the drive-in at the end with her rambunctious biker family.
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Fun fact, Elvira is also shown on a poster seen when Pee-wee enters the magic shop.
3. Twisted Sister
As Pee-wee finally gets his beloved bike back in his possession, he takes a wild ride through the Warner Bros. studio lots. He even crashes a music video for ’80s heavy metal band Twisted Sister, fronted by Dee Snider, for “Burn in Hell.”
Hear no evil, don’t you
See no evil, don’t you
Lay no evil down on me
You’re gonna burn in hell…
4. Milton Berle
Speaking of that trip through Warner Bros., Pee-wee pretends to be part of Milton Berle’s entourage in order to sneak past the guard. As Pee-wee laughs a little too hard at Uncle Miltie’s joke, the legendary actor glances back, thinking, “This jerk…” (and he ain’t wrong).
5. James Brolin
Who better to play Pee-wee Herman in his own life story than the handsome 6′ 4″ James Brolin? As “P.W. Herman,” Brolin takes on ninjas, rides a motorcycle, and is in hot pursuit of a bike that was stolen by the Soviets. Uncanny.
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During Pee-wee’s Big Adventure 35th Anniversary Tour in Dallas, Texas, Reubens told the audience that he got access to the set of The Goonies, which was filming nearby. While there, he asked a young Josh Brolin if his dad wants to be in his film they were shooting. Josh came back to him later and said, “My dad said he’ll be in your film.” And the rest is movie history.
6. Morgan Fairchild
Of course, a handsome leading man always has his beautiful leading lady. Opposite Brolin’s P.W. Herman is Morgan Fairchild as Dottie. She is smart, glamorous, and kicks serious ninja butt. What more could you ask for?
7. John Paragon
One of the best comedic moments comes when Pee-wee asks an actor walking by in a knight costume where he can find the set his bike is on. The man raises his helmet and answers him in an incredibly high-pitched voice. That actor is none other than John Paragon, who also played everyone’s favorite genie, Jambi, in Pee-wee’s Playhouse. “Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho!”
8. Godzilla & King Ghidorah
Pee-wee interrupts the King of the Monsters, Godzilla, and the three-headed King Ghidorah as they battle it out in front of a city skyline. Godzilla grabs Ghidorah, who lifts him up into the air, as Pee-wee comes riding through, laughing, and taking out a few tanks along the way.
That does it for our best Pee-wee’s Big Adventure cameos list. Be sure to let us know your favorite!
I never knew that “Mecca lecca…” came from Pee-wee’s show. I learned it from a riff on the phrase in “Weird Al” Yankovic’s song “Pretty Fly for a Rabbi” (a parody of “Pretty Fly for a White Guy”).
So who are the girls in the video? Their names are not listed in the credits.