RIP John Jambi Paragon

Looks like John passed away in April. No cause of death as yet. I met him at a convention once and he was very kind to my son who has autism. I told him how much we loved Pee Wee's Christmas special and that they should perform it live. He said it was the best damn thing they ever wrote.

 

I still often say (apropos of nothing) "Mekka lekka hi mekka heinie ho!" A co-worker who was a big fan of the show usually responds "Mekka lekka hi mekka ho-ho-ho!"

RIP

 

A recent photo of John:

 

Love to see that out there on YouTube. I remember seeing it waaaay back in the early 80's on either HBO or Showtime. I don't know if it was done specifically for one of those networks or if one of them just picked it up for replay. I remember some send up of The Dating Game too.

 

RIP Jambi

'Pee-wee's Playhouse' star John Paragon dead at 66

 

Sources are saying that John died from unknown causes.

 

R.I.P.

 

"Mekka lekka hi mekka heinie ho!"
“Long live Jambi!”

Love Pterri the Pterodactyl too.

 

I remember an HBO special called The Paragon of Comedy where he did a whole bunch of his different characters.

Edit: Found it:

 

When I spoke to him he was trying to get it rereleased. Somebody had the master tapes and it was proving problematic. I am wondering if John had a problem with drink as it was obvious he was intoxicated when I met him.

 

YES!!! That's it. I saw both The Pee Wee Herman show and Paragon of Comedy back when they were on cable. Got the two mixed up. The Dating Game sketch was on Paragon of Comedy.

 

He did, yes.

 

He was funny! I liked The Paragon of Comedy and have it somewhere on VHS off of Showtime, I believe. He even had a bit part in "Goin' Berserk"; he spits on John Candy and says "F you, hippie!"


Dan

 

Laraine Newman on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/larainenewman/status/1405649218123943938

Julia Sweeney on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JIsbackintown/status/1405651185491611652

Elvira on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TheRealElvira/status/1405908077157646336

 

Was it Paragon who had that very high hair pompadore during his "Ramone" stand-up and quipped "Some women like to sit on your face, but my women like to sit on my hair". To me back in the early '80's I fell in the floor with his delivery of that line.
R.I.P. John....

 

He was also "Breather" on Elvira's show.

 

Rest In Peace...

 

A funny and talented guy. He was so convincing as Jambi one could wonder if he had a body….

 

Jambi did get a shipment of a pair of hands on the HBO Pee-wee's Playhouse.

 

Rest In Peace, John. I was lucky to know you so deeply. - Pee-wee's blog

 

Actor John Paragon, Known for Role on Pee-wee 's Playhouse , Dies at 66

 

'Pee-wee's' star John Paragon's cause of death revealed