{"id":279197,"date":"2021-06-18T15:45:21","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T12:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/pee-wees-playhouse-star-john-paragon-dead-at-66\/"},"modified":"2021-06-18T15:45:21","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T12:45:21","slug":"pee-wees-playhouse-star-john-paragon-dead-at-66","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/pee-wees-playhouse-star-john-paragon-dead-at-66\/","title":{"rendered":"#’Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ star John Paragon dead at 66"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#’Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ star John Paragon dead at 66<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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Let us all say a prayer for Jambi: \u201cMeka leka hi meka hiney ho.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

John Paragon, the veteran actor who played the blue-faced genie Jambi on \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse,\u201d has died. He was 66.<\/p>\n

Paragon passed away in April, although the cause of death has not been revealed, according to the coroner\u2019s office in Riverside County, California, TMZ confirmed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From 1986 to 1991, Paragon app<\/a>eared on the Emmy-nominated \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse\u201d as Jambi the Genie, whose painted blue face and ornamented red turban sat disembodied in a bedazzled box, which was prompted to open anytime Pee-wee Herman (Paul Ruebens) wanted to make a wish. And with each wish, Jambi would chant the iconic magic words: \u201cMeka leka hi meka hiney ho<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pee-wee
John Paragon played the blue-faced genie Jambi on \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse.\u201d<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1954, Paragon got his big break as a member of the groundbreaking Groundlings Improv Group \u2014 and in recent years he \u201cworked with Walt Disney Imagineering on ways to incorporate improvisational performance into attractions at Disney parks,\u201d according to his official bio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Paragon also voiced the recurring \u201cPee-wee\u2019s\u201d character Pterri the Pterodactyl \u2014 and when he wasn\u2019t acting on \u201cPlayhouse,\u201d he was known to have written several episodes alongside Reubens, including the \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse: Christmas Special\u201d in 1988, which won the series<\/a> an Emmy nomination for Best Writing in a Children\u2019s Special. <\/p>\n

In the same year, he co-wrote \u201cElvira: Mistress of the Dark\u201d with Elvira herself, aka fellow Groundlings veteran Cassandra Peterson.<\/p>\n

\"Pee-wee
John Paragon also voiced the puppet Pterri the Pterodactyl on \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse.\u201d<\/figcaption>
\u00a9CBS\/Courtesy Everett Collectio<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paragon also appeared in a number of feature films through the 1980s, including \u201cThe Frog Prince\u201d (1986), Weird Al Yankovic\u2019s \u201cUHF\u201d (1989), and the cult cannibalism classic \u201cEating Raoul\u201d (1982), and was later seen making cameos on \u201cSeinfeld.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"John
John Paragon had several writing credits for \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse,\u201d earning him an Emmy nomination for Best Writing in a Children\u2019s Special in 1988.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paragon\u2019s past colleagues, friends and fans have taken to social media<\/a> to remember the inimitable comedian. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am sooo sad. This is terrible news<\/a>,\u201d wrote former \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d star Julia Sweeney<\/a>. \u201cI didn\u2019t know him well, but I admired him greatly & he was deeply loved by so many whom I know well. So many laughs. Sad for The Groundlings. Sad for comedy. Very sad day. RIP John Paragon. \ud83d\udc94\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite \u201cPee-wee\u2019s Playhouse\u201d signing off three decades ago, the legend of Jambi lives on with kids today. <\/p>\n

Said one proud parent<\/a>, \u201cAfter spending nearly a year teaching my #PeeWeesPlayhouse obsessed child inside of a Jambi\u2019s box \u2014 I\u2019m very weepy after learning of John Paragon\u2019s passing. Jambi (and Pterri) have been incredible forces in our lives and we\u2019ll love them always!\u201d<\/p>\n

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After spending nearly a year teaching my #PeeWeesPlayhouse<\/a> obsessed child inside of a Jambi\u2019s box \u2013 I\u2019m very weepy after learning of John Paragon\u2019s passing. Jambi (and Pterri) have been incredible forces in our lives and we\u2019ll love them always! pic.twitter.com\/5mYXQrXhCo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Wylie Derryberry (@WylieDerryberry) June 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Actor and \u201cMad TV\u201d comedian Phil LaMarr added that he was \u201cshocked and saddened to learn of the passing of the amazingly talented John Paragon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRamon Azteca, Jambi the Genie, Mr. Excitement, The Breather, The Paragon of Comedy, Groundling, improviser, writer, performer, producer he did it all \u2014 and brilliantly,\u201d LaMarr concluded<\/a>. <\/p>\n

As Paragon\u2019s most famous character would say, \u201cLong live Jambi!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"John
John Paragon, seen here in 2014, had been working with Walt Disney Imagineering prior to his passing, to devise improv performances for Disney theme parks.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n