Actor John Paragon, known for Pee-wee’s Playhouse, passed away on April 3, 2021, though his death was not announced until June. He was 66 years old.

Paragon starred on the zany children’s show as Jambi, the blue-faced genie head inside of a magic screen. Charismatic and charming as Jambi, the character would use the magic phrase, “Meka leka hi meka hiney ho” when Pee-wee Herman (Paul Ruebens) wanted to make a wish.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska on December 9, 1954, Paragon got into acting through the Groundlings Improv Group.

He starred on Pee-wee’s Playhouse from 1986 to 1991 and in addition to playing Jambi, he also voiced the puppet Pterri the Pterodactyl and directed several episodes. Paragon wrote several episodes of the series alongside Reubens, including 1988’s Pee-wee’s Playhouse: Christmas Special, which won an Emmy for Best Writing in a Children’s Special.

That year he also co-wrote Elvira: Mistress of the Dark with Elvira actress and fellow Groundlings performer Cassandra Peterson.

As an actor he was also in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Spaceballs, Cheers, UHF, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Seinfeld, and Elvrai’s Movie Macabre.

His writing credits included Saturday Night Live, The Elvira Show, The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway, and 13 Nights of Elvira. Paragon also directed several episodes of Silk Stalkings.

In more recent years he worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to bring improvisational performances to Disney parks.