'Pee-wee's Playhouse' Star John Paragon Dies In Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, CA — John Dixon Paragon, perhaps best known to public audiences as Jambi the Genie on the 1980s children's television show "Pee-wee's Playhouse," has died at the age of 66.

The iconic funnyman died at his Palm Springs home April 3, although his death was just confirmed Friday by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau. A cause of death was not provided.

Paragon got his start in the Los Angeles-based improvisation group The Groundlings alongside Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman, and "Saturday Night Live" legend Phil Hartman, according to published reports.

Paragon made appearances as Jambi the Genie on both the "Pee-wee Herman Show" and "Pee-wee's Playhouse," as well as the voice role of Pterri on the latter series. He also made writing and directorial contributions to the wildly popular Pee-wee shows.

Paragon and Reubens co-wrote the "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special" in 1988, which earned them an Emmy Award nomination for Best Writing in a Children's Special.

According to published reports, Paragon made appearances in the television series "Seinfeld"; the children's movie "The Frog Prince"; the comedy movie "Eating Raoul," and "Echo Park."

He also collaborated with fellow Groundling Cassandra Peterson on numerous Elvira projects, and he worked with Walt Disney Imagineering.

Paragon reprised his role as Jambi the Genie in a 2010 Pee-wee Herman stage show.