Howard Pays Tribute to ‘Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’ Star John Paragon
Howard Pays Tribute to ‘Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’ Star John Paragon
The actor also wrote and directed for the iconic children’s show and other works
Actor John Paragon, best known for his role as Jambi the Genie in the iconic children’s show “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” has died. He was 66 years old.
On Wednesday, Howard remembered Paragon for being much more than an actor. “John wasn’t just a performer, he wrote and directed multiple episodes of ‘Playhouse,’ wrote a Christmas special along with [Pee-Wee Herman creator] Paul Reubens in 1988 … [and] had brief roles in ‘Cheers’, ‘Seinfeld,’ and movies like ‘Honey I Blew Up the Kids,’” he recalled before breaking down arguably his most famous contribution to the show. “Pee-Wee would say, ‘Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho!’ and then Jambi would make his wish come true.”
A member of the revolutionary Groundlings improv troupe along with Reubens and ”SNL” star Phil Hartman, Paragon was there for much of the character’s life – helping write the original stage show in the early 1980s and reprising the role during the 2010 revival both in Los Angeles and on Broadway. “Long live Jambi – that was a great show,” Howard noted, borrowing one of the genie’s catchphrases.